Ch. xxvl] old eed sandstone. 417 



same beds in the Sidlav,' Hills, at all tlie points where fig. 4 is introduced 

 in the section, p. 48. 



Fig. 544. Fig. 545. 



Parka decipiens, Fleming. 



In sandstone of lower beds 

 of Old Eed, Leys Mill, 

 Forfarshire. 



• 'ijyiens, Fleming. 

 In shale of lower beds of Old Red, Fife. 



Dr. Fleming has compared these fossils to the panicles of a Jiincus^ or 

 the catkins of Sparganium, or some aUied plant, and he was confirmed in 

 this opinion by finding a specimen at Balrudderie, showing the under 

 surface smoother than the upper, and displaying what 

 may be the place of attachment of a stalk. I have met 

 with some specimens in Forfarshire imbedded in sand- 

 stone, and not associated with the leaves of plants (see 

 fig. 544), which bore a considerable resesemblance to 

 the spawn of a recent JSfatica (fig, 546), in which the 

 e2:2:s are arrano^ed in a thin layer of sand, and seem to Fragment of spawn 



/^^ , ° 1 /> 1 • • ^^ British species 



have acquired a polygonal form by pressmg against of H'atica. 

 each other ; but, as no gasteropodous shells have been 

 detected in the same formation, the FarJca has probably no connection 

 with this class of organisms. 



The late Dr. Mantell was so much struck with the resemblance of one 





Fossil —Old Eed. Recent. 



Fig. 549. 



Fig. 547. Slab of Old Eed Sandstone, 

 Forfarshire, with bodies like the 

 ova of Batrachians. 

 a. Ova? in a carbonized state. 

 &. Egg-cells ?, the ova shed. 

 Fig. 548. Eggs of the common frog, 

 Jiana temporal ia, in a carbon- 

 ized state, from a dried-up pond in 

 Olapham Common. 



a. The ova. 



l>. A transverse section of the 



muss exhibiting the form of 



the egg-cells. 



Fig. 549. Shale of Old Eed Sandstone, or 

 Devonian, Forfarshire, with im[)ression 

 of plants and eggs of Batrachians ? 

 a. Two pair of ova? resembling 

 those of large Salamanders oi 

 Tritons— on the same leaf 

 &, h. Detached ova? 

 c. Egg-cells (?) of frogs or Ranina. 



