1850.] BUCKMAN ON LIAS PLANTS. 413 



and of the escape of sulphureous gases when they were young ; these 

 same pheenomena have occurred during four consecutive months of 

 the preceding winter, accompanied by earthquakes, which have caused 

 considerable mischief to the buildings of seven villages situated within 

 a radius of two leagues. They have not, however, been attended 

 with any loss of life, on account of the inhabitants hastening to aban- 

 don their dwellings at the first indications of danger. 



4. On some Fossil Plants from the Lower Lias. By James 

 BucKMAN, Esq., F.G.S. L.S., Professor of Geology and Botany, 

 Royal Agricultural College. 



Towards the base of the limestone beds, forming the lower division 

 of the lias formation in its extension through the counties of Glou- 

 cester, Worcester, and Warwick, and probably even contemporaneous 

 with the liassic deposit in these counties, is found a band of lime- 

 stone of a much purer and harder quality than those with which it is 

 associated. 



This band of stone is known amongst the quarrymen by the name 

 of " best paving slab," and is much used throughout the Midland 

 Counties for flooring of barns and farmhouse kitchens ; but from its 

 having yielded to the researches of the Rev. P. B. Brodie a beautiful 

 series of insect remains, it is recognized by geologists under the name 

 of " Insect limestone." 



The insect remains here referred to have been well figured and 

 described by their discoverer* ; and in a i^esume of the general cha- 

 racters of these, appended by the excellent entomologist Mr. West- 

 wood, will be found the following observation : 



" The lias insects resemble forms of ordinary occurrence and of 

 temperate climes, more like North iVmerica than Europe f." 



Now, as these insects are associated with remains of plants, it can- 

 not be otherwise than interesting to inquire whether the facts as no- 

 ticed by the entomologist are in accordance with the observations of 

 the botanist, as conclusions supported by the evidence of two distinct 

 sciences must have more weight than when these are conflicting. 



The object of this paper, therefore, is to describe the vegetable re- 

 mains associated with insects in the lower lias, and to distinguish the 

 new forms which have been made out since the publication of the 

 * History of Fossil Insects." 



The list of the plants from the lower lias, given in the work just 

 referred to, comprehends the following : — 



Otopteris obtusa, Lindl. and Hutt. Foss. Musci. 



Flora, pi. 128. figs. 1 & 2. Confervse. 

 acuminata, Lindl. and Hutt. Foss, Calamites. 



Flora, pi. 132. Naiadita lanceolata, Brodie. 



* * k History of the Fossil Insects in the Secondary Rocks of England,' &c., 

 by the Rev. P. B. Brodie, M.A., F.G.S. &c. 8vo. London, 1845. 

 t Brodie's Fossil Insects, p. xvi. 



2 G 2 



