XCvi PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, [vol. lxxix, 



some Carboniferous Ptericlosperms. We know nothing of its 

 internal structure, and there are no adequate grounds on which to 

 assume a relationship to the true Caulopteris of the Coal Measures. 

 Dr. Kidston is of opinion that the more slender stems bearing 

 curved and (presumably) partly expanded branches clothed with 

 filiform appendages, which Dawson named Psilopliyton tliomsoni 

 and by some authors have been confused with Thursopliyton, 

 belong to Salter's Caulopteris. Specimens described by H. Potonie 

 and C. Bernard from the Middle Devonian of Bohemia as Spiro- 

 pteris liostimensis are, in all probability, generically identical with 

 the Psilopliyton from Scotland. The main interest of these little 

 understood fossils is that their habit is Fern-like : they may be 

 early representatives of the Filicinean stock. 



In Phynia, Homea, Psilopliyton, and Arthrostiyma we have a 

 group of fossils without doubt closely related one to the other ; 

 but the degree of relationship must be left, for the present, 

 undecided. Mliynia and Homea are of Middle Devonian age ; 

 'Psilopliyton and Arthrostiyma, though mainly Lower Devonian 

 genera, occur also in Middle Devonian rocks. In 1907 Dr. David 

 White described a remarkable fossil tree, from Upper Devonian 

 beds near Naples in New York County, which he named Arcliceo- 

 sig 'Maria primes va : it has more recently been assigned by 

 Mr. E. W. Berry, and with good reason, to the genus Protolepido- 

 dendron. The stem, when first discovered, was about 16| feet in 

 length, with no branches; although, as Berry indicates in his 

 restoration of the Naples tree, it probably branched nearer the 

 summit. On some parts of the stem the surface-features recall 

 those of some Sigillarias, and in others there is a closer resem- 

 blance to certain Lepidodendra : the lower portion of the trunk is 

 characterized by fairly regular and prominent longitudinal ridges, 

 and the base is swollen like that of a Royal Palm. The leaves, 

 about 3 cm. in length, are of the Lycopod form. Slender rootlets 

 penetrate the soil from the bulbous base of the stem. 



We may next turn to some stumps of trees recently discovered 

 in strata (stated by Dr. J. M. Clarke to be of Middle Devonian 

 age) near the village of Grilboa, a locality about 200 miles from 

 Naples (N.Y.). The complete stems may have reached the length 

 of 20 to 30 feet and a diameter of 2 feet. The lower end of the 

 stem was continued downwards into a swollen base bearing rootlets. 

 Dr. Clarke states that some of the narrow, strap-like leaves bore a 



