1876.] Knowledge of flic Fossil Flora in India. 361 



We can, however, still recognize that we have to deal with an Alethop- 

 tei'is, G-cpp., as some of the originals are still in the Museum of the Geolo- 

 gical Survey. 



Mr. Oldham* from the first compared this Aletlwpteris Lindleyana, 

 Eoyle, with Pecopteris Australis, McCoy. I think there is an analogy 

 in so far as they both belong to the same mezozoic group. 



Schimper has recentlyf described this species as Alethopteris Lind- 

 leyana, Eoyl., between Aleth. indica, O. M. and Aletlwpt. australis, Morr., 

 and says of it (p. 569), " Cette espece parait egalement appartenir au group 

 de r Aletlwpteris WMtbyensis, etc." 



The figures of Eoyle and McClelland were all taken from sterile fronds. 

 Amongst Mr. Wood-Mason's specimens is a fructificating pinna, which 

 in the form of the leaflet agrees perfectly with that of Pecopt. Lindleyana, 

 Eoyle (1. c), so that I do not doubt but that T have this species before me, 

 and I must consider it as a fertile frond of Pecopteris Lindleyana, E. 



It is only a fragment of a pinna with 4 pinnulse on each side. The 

 form of the leaflets besides agreeing with Eoyle's figure (1. c.) shows 

 also a similarity to certain forms from the Eajmahal Hills which I 

 consider to belong to the Aletlwpteris indica, O. M., and of which one 

 specimen will be figured on PL XXXVI of the continuation of the Eajmahal 

 Flora, now in the press and shortly to be issued. 



The specimen under discussion is the second instance of a fern found in 

 fructification in the Eaniganj field J ; fructificating ferns are as yet very 

 rare, and we know besides these two specimens only Glossopteris indica, 

 Schimp., from Kamti (Nagpiir district) with fructifications preserved. 



The rbachis of the pinna is pretty thick, the pinnula3 broadly ovate, 

 connected at the base, with a slightly waved margin. 



The chief veins fine, as also are the secondary ones, which seem 

 forked ; the sporanges inserted on the secondary veins, on the surface of 

 the pinnula, about midway between the midrib and the margin. 



There are generally from six to eight sori in each row. 



From the manner of fructification and from the shape of the leaflets, 

 we could perhaps trace an analogy between our species and some forms of the 

 genus Polypodium, perhaps Poly podium spectabile, Sprengel (Ivaulf.), Poly- 

 podiwm concinnum, Presl. (and others), Polypodium submarginale, Sprengel, 

 Polypodium ainplum, Presl., and other species. (Some of these are also 

 described as Phegopteris.) 



* Mem. G. S. Ind. Vol. II. p. 328. 

 f Pal. veget. I. pp. 568, 569. 



X A fructificating pinnula, as I suppose, also of Alethopteris {Pecopt. J Lindleyana is 

 amongst McClelland's originals, but was never mentioned. 



