THINNFELDIA. 31 



late Cretace&us species should be included in the coniferous family 

 Taxaceae." He adds — " They may perhaps form a link between 

 the Podocarpese and the Taxese, and while they are unmistakably 

 related to Phyllocladus, their extremely large size compared with 

 the existing members of that genus and other minor differences, 

 such as petiolate forms and the general absence of crenate margins, 

 make it desirable to refer them to a new genus, which, while 

 indicating their proper relationship, shall keep them distiact from 

 the small-leaved species." I maintain that this conclusion is not 

 supported by satisfactory evidence. Before accepting the above 

 statement it is important that we should inquire into the nature of 

 the evidence on which it is based. My view is that the use of the 

 generic name Protophyllocladus is a retrograde step which should be 

 strongly deprecated. Palaeobotanical literature contains too many 

 designations characterised by the prefix ' Proto- ' which cannot be 

 defended by evidence which is likely to be accepted by critical 

 systematists. Mr. Berry constantly uses the word 'leaf in speaking 

 of the fossil specimens and in his references to recent species of 

 Phyllocladus, thus ignoring the fact that the assimilating organs of 

 the New Zealand Conifer are branches (phylloclades), while the 

 true leaves assume the form of small inconspicuous scales. Any 

 facts that can be adduced bearing on the past history of so isolated 

 a type as the New Zealand genus Phyllocladus would be particularly 

 welcome ; but to describe the American Cretaceous fossils as repre- 

 sentatives or near relations of that genus can tend only to increase 

 the distrust on the part of botanists of palaeobotanical records. 

 "We know nothing of the reproductive organs of the Cretaceous 

 plants referred to Protophyllocladus, nor, so far as I am aware, have 

 we any justification for assuming that the superficial resemblance 

 of the apparent leaf-fragments to the phylloclades of Phyllocladus 

 amounts to morphological identity. 



TMnnfeldia rhomboidalis, Ettingshausen. 



[Abh. k.k. geol. Keichs. Bd. i. AMh. 3, No. 3, p. 2, pi. i. figs. 4-7, 1852.] 



(PI. IV. Pigs. 1-3.) 

 1845. ? Odontopteris juren.iis, Kuir, Beit. foss. Flor. Jura "Wiirttemliergs, 



p. 12, pi. ii. fig. 1. 

 1852. Thinnfeldia rhomioidalis, Ettingshausen, Abh. k.k. geol. Eeicbs. 

 Bd. i. Abtb. 3, No. 3, p. 2, pi. i. figs. 4-7. 



