134 AKAUCABITES. 



by the matrix of the rock, are numerous imbricate scales. On one 

 side of the central region one sees that some of the pits or pockets- 

 are occupied by seeds which extend distally into the hollow- 

 basal portion of the cone-scales. The scales are approximately 

 1'7 cm. broad and slightly winged. At the base of the cone are 

 portions of small sterile scales. The features presented by this 

 cone agree precisely with those of recent Araucarian cones ; the 

 single seed embedded in each scale, the general form of the cone, 

 the form of the individual cone-scales, and the occurrence of sterile 



.scales at the base are characters which can be exactly matched 

 in recent Araucarias. I have included the species Araucarite» 

 Sudlestoni, Carr., under A. ooliticus, as I fail to discover any 

 differences that appear to be of specific rank. 



Another specimen in the Northampton Museum, drawn in 

 Text-fig. 17, shows a portion of a smaller cone : in A a scale is- 



•represented in surface-view ; the thin lateral borders are clearly 

 shown in both A and B, Text-fig. 17 ; from the lower margin of 

 the scale (A) the end of a seed projects, and in the end-view (B) 

 one sees the cavity originally occupied by a seed. The example 

 shown in Text -fig. 18, also from Kingsthorpe, illustrates the 

 appearance presented by a small cone as seen in surface-view. 



Araucarites ooliticus bears a fairly close resemblance to a French 

 cone of Lower Cretaceous age described by FKche as Sarcostrohilus 

 Paulini,'^ and referred by him to the Araucarieee. 



The specimen figured by Lindley & Hutton '" as StroMlites- 

 Buohlandi is no doubt an Araucarian cone, possibly identical 

 with Araucarites ooliticus, hut no information is given as to the 



' geological age. 



The name Araucarites Ekdlestoni was instituted by Carruthers for 



' a cone from the Coralline Oolite of Malton ; it is defined as follows : — 

 "Cone oblong - ovate, supported on a thick branch, which is 

 clothed with leaves to the base of the cone. Scales numerous, 

 supported on a thick axis. Scales small, wingless, with a well- 

 marked lepidium or upper scale. Seed small, oval, borne at the 

 base of the scale." 



1 Fliche (00), p. 11, pi. i. figs. 2-6. 



2 liindley & Hutton (34), pi. cxxix. 



