242 



E. W. Berry — A .Fossil Nutmeg. 



only one of which is perfect (fig. 1). The nuts were appar- 

 ently relatively abundant, but since they were only discovered 

 in the weathered sandstone there are few that are reasonably 

 complete although there are several showing parts of the sides 

 or ends, in some cases half complete as in fig. 2. 



As I have mentioned, all the plant remains at this locality 

 are in the form of casts and the nuts must have been buried by 



Fig. 1. 



Figs. 1-6. Myristica catahoulensis sp. nov. from the Tertiary of Texas. 

 1. Side view of seed. 

 2, 3. End views of same. 

 4-6. Side, top and front view of a valve of the pericarp. 



wind-blown sand since they lie in the sand at all angles. The 

 seolian character of the sandstone at this outcrop is of the 

 greatest importance in explaining the absence of both aril and 

 perisperm, and is, therefore, deserving of comment. The evi- 

 dence for this conclusion is derived from several sources. 

 Many of the leaf specimens are curled and not flat as they 

 would almost invariably be if laid down in water. These and 



