Vol. 69.] OTTR KNOWLEDGE OF WEALDEX ELOEAS. 105 



mention, as illustrating more clearly than any examples hitherto 

 described the alternation on a slender shoot of small crowded leaf- 

 scars with more widely separated scars. This type of branch is 

 fairly common, both in Wealden and in Jurassic floras ; and, in some 

 cases at least, there can be no doubt as to the close affinity of such 

 shoots to those of recent Abietineaa. 



PlNITES Sp., Cf. P. DTJNKEKI CaiT. (PI. XII, figS. 6 & 7.) 



(Fairlight Clay, Fairlight ; Dawson Coll.) 

 1866. Piuites dunkeri Carruthers, Geol. Mag. vol. iii, p. 542. 



The imperfect scale shown in PI. XII, fig. 6 is characterized by 

 a broad and bluntly-rounded distal end, 8 mm. wide, with a 

 terminal umbo. At the lower end is the faint impression of a seed, 

 or probably two small contiguous seeds. In general appearance 

 the specimen bears a close resemblance to the seminiferous scales of 

 the Himalayan pine, Pinus e.vceha Wall. At the base of the scale 

 represented in PI. XII, fig. 7 the presence of two seeds is clearly 

 shown. 



It is impossible to speak with confidence as to the specific 

 identification of these two scales ; but a comparison with the scales 

 of the large Wealden cone P. dunlceri Carr. leads me to suggest 

 identity with that species. While it is hopeless to attempt a satis- 

 factory diagnosis of the different forms of Lower Cretaceous cones, 

 it is a significant fact that in the vegetation of this period the 

 Abietineae play a prominent part. In addition to the species of 

 Abietineous cones mentioned in the ' Wealden Flora,' reference may 

 be made to specimens described by American authors from the 

 Shasta Formation of California and the Potomac Group as Abietites 

 macrocarpus Font, and A. angusticarpiis Font., 1 which are hardly 

 distinguishable from Pinites dunlceri. Comparison may also be 

 made with cones figured by Fliche from Lower Cretaceous beds 

 in the Argonne, as, for example, P. andrcei Coem. 2 Some of the 

 seed-bearing scales described by Prof. Xathorst as Pityolepis tolli 3 

 from Jurassic beds in Kotelny (Xew Siberian Islands) are similar 

 to those reproduced in PI. XII, figs. 6 & 7, but they differ in shape 

 and are larger. 



Species Coniferarum incertae sedis. 



Sphexolepidium ktjreiantim (Dunk.). (PL XII, figs. 10 a & 10 b.) 

 (Dawson Coll.) 



1846. Thuites (Cupressites?) kurrianus Dunker, ' Monographie der Norcl- 

 deutschen Wealdenbildung ' p. 20 & pi. vii, fig. 8. 



The small cone shown in fig. 10 a occurs in association with 

 slender shoots bearing spirally-disposed leaves, and agrees closely 



1 Fontaine (89) pi. cxxxii ; Fontaine in Ward (05) pi. Ixviii, figs. 15-16, 

 pi. cxiv, fig. 10, & pi. cxv, figs. 2-3. 



2 Fliche (96) p. 115 & pi. x, figs. 3-4. a Nathorst (07) pi. ii, especially fig. 3. 



