1868.] SALTKR COAL- PLANT FROM SINAI. 509 



thin -bedded, partially siliceous and conglomeratic, partially calcare- 

 ous sandstones of a liglit-brown or yellowish colour. 



The only two European species which I have met with in these 

 beds were Avicida echinata, Sow., and Amusium (Fecten) demissum, 

 Bean. Our specimens of the former perfectly agree with those of 

 the Cornbrash type, and of the latter with Homer's Pecten vitreus 

 from the Upper Oolite of Germany. "With reference to the develop- 

 ment of the Jurassic deposits in the Spiti valley I have classed these 

 beds as " Upper Jurassic," stating that they probably may be the 

 representatives of the European " Malm." I based my opinion upon 

 stratigraphical reasons as well as upon the discovery of a number of 

 fossils such as an Ostrea, a Gnjphea, Mijtilus mytiloidea, Blf., Pecten 

 hifrons, Salter, Anathm Spitiensis, Stol., Opis, and others, all of which 

 are more or less related to Upper- Jurassic types of shells. 



The Gieumal sandstone is overlain by Cretaceous rocks. 



This short account of the Jurassic deposits, as represented in the 

 Spiti valley, and characterized by a number of well-known European 

 species, will, I trust, show how far Mr. Tate's statements with re- 

 gard to the failure of establishing a correlation between similar de- 

 posits in Europe and the Himalayas is correct. I cannot, indeed, 

 perceive upon what grounds those erroneous statements were made, 

 but I am sure they could not have been pronounced upon anything 

 like a careful examination of my memoirs on the Jurassic and other 

 rocks of the North-west Himalaya. I have not quoted a single 

 satisfactory instance where the same species has been found to be 

 common to two of the five divisions into which I have separated 

 the Jurassic deposits of the Spiti valley. "Where is there anything 

 like what Mr. Tate calls a confused association of fossils belonging 

 to determined stages of the European Juras to be found in the 

 Jurassic beds of the Himalayas ? 



8. On a true Coal-plant (Lepidodendron) from Sinai. 

 By J. W. Salter, Esq., A.L.S., F.G.S. 



(Abstract.) 

 Some years ago Sir E. I. Murchison received from an officer travel- 

 ling in Arabia some sandstone specimens, picked up in the desert of 

 Sinai. One of these was a portion of a Lepidodendron (indicating 

 the existence there of the true Coal-formation), preserved in thin- 

 bedded sandstone, harder than Coal-sandstones usually are. ^ 



It cannot be identified with any known European species. The 

 scars are peculiar in form, the leaf-attachment being placed very 

 far forward, and the ridge arched. 



Mr. Salter describes it as follows : — 



Lepidodendron mosaicum, spec. nov. 



Scars rather square, not more than a quarter of an inch in length, 

 and about the same in width, arched in front, bluntly acuminate 

 behind. The leaf-attachment placed on the anterior portion, very 



