376 



MK. S. A. ADAMSOlir ON" A EECENT DISCOYEET OF 



country, owing to its durability when used for landings, flags, &c., and 

 known as the Elland Flagstone of the Lower Coal-measures, is here ex- 

 tensively quarried. In this neighbourhood the sequence of the beds in 

 descending order is as follows : first, the Better-Bed Coal, then some 

 30 feet of irregularly bedded and raggy sandstone, followed by about 

 40 feet of sandy shale, and finally the lower flagstone, which is of 

 great thickness. It was in the measures above the lower flagstone, 

 and about 5 feet below the surface, that the stump of this large 

 fossil tree was found. The raggy stone and shale is of little com- 

 mercial value, and Messrs. Murgatroyd have to resort to blasting 

 operations to remove it. In November 1887, during this work, the 

 ramifications of the roots of a large tree were partially exposed, and 

 the firm at once gave orders that they should be carefully bared. 

 These praiseworthy instructions were skilfully followed by their 

 workmen, with the result that this splendid example could be per- 

 fectly seen (see plan, p. 375). The stump rose a little above the 

 surface on which the roots were almost horizontally extended. 

 When first exposed, there was a film of carbonaceous matter covering 

 the stump and roots. The roots presented the usual markings of 

 Stigmaria Jicoicles. As in other adjacent examples, the roots were 

 much longer to the south than those which branched in other di- 

 rections. This fossil has been since removed, and Messrs. Murgatroyd 

 have presented it to the Bradford Corporation, by whom it will be 

 placed in the Bowling Public Park. The following measurements- 

 were carefully made whilst it was in situ : — 



ft. in. 



Height of stump above surface of roots 3 8 



Diameter of stump (longest axis) 4 4 



„ „ (at right angles to longest axis) ... 3 6 









Distance from point of 







Diameter 

 close 



Distance from 



bifurcation to 



Greatest 



Eoot 



stump to 



present termination 



length of 



No. 



bifurcation 



of root. 



root 





to stump. 



of roots. 





exposed. 











Eight fork. 



Left fork. 







in. 



ft. in. 



ft. in. 



ft. in. 



ft. in. 



1. 



17 



2 3 



9 6 



7 



11 9 



2. 



12 



3 6 



8 



13 



16 6 



3. 



12 



3 6 



7 9 



12 6 



16 



4. 



13 



2 9 



7 9 



9 6 



12 3 



5. 



17 



2 



6 



8 



10 



6. 



14 



3 9 



3 6 



3 



7 3 



7. 



13 



7 3 



2 



2 



9 3 



8. 



15 



6 



2 



1 9 



8 



It may be well also, for comparison and reference, to give the 

 dimensions of the fine example of Stigmaria Jicoicles discovered in 

 the same quarry in July 1886, which the writer had the honour to 

 describe in the Geological Section of the British Association at the 

 Birmingham meeting in the same year. This specimen was obtained 



