152 MR ROBERT KIDSTON ON THE FRUCTIFICATION OF 



f 

 the ordinary barren pinnules. It would appear, therefore, that each of the 

 lateral pinnae supported four fruits, and on the terminal portion; though the 

 remains of only eleven fructifications are seen, there were probably originally 

 twelve. There may be combined in this part two lateral pinnae and the apex 

 of the frond, each bearing four fruits, but this cannot be clearly traced. 

 At/ is shown a small fragment of a pinna, drawn in the natural position it 

 holds to the larger specimen. This shows the remains of two fructifications 

 and portions of three barren pinnules, one of which is very perfect. The 

 fortunate occurrence of barren pinnules associated with this fructification, 

 conclusively identifies this interesting specimen with the genus Neuropteris, 

 and further the barren pinnules/* and e* do not differ in any way from many 

 shown on the figure of N. heterophylla, given by Brongniart in the Hist. d. 

 Veget. foss., plate lxxi. In the same beds from which this specimen was 

 collected N. heterophylla is plentiful. 



As to the affinities of this species, either with past or present existing 

 genera of ferns, unfortunately this specimen does not afford sufficient data 

 from which to form any opinion. 



In the description of this specimen, I have therefore refrained from employ- 

 ing the terms indusium or sporangium to the little expansions at the 

 extremities of the pedicels, as I cannot determine their true structure, though 

 they are apparently composed of two or four segments. 



Horizon. — Lower Coal Measures. 



Locality. — Blairpoint, Dysart, Fife. 



Alcicornopteris, n. gen., Kidston. 



Generic Description. — Eachis ramifying by a series of dichotomies. Barren 

 pinnse composed of a foliaceous RhacophyUum-\Hk.Q expansion. Fruiting 

 portion consisting of much divided circinately convoluted pinnae. Form and 

 mode of attachment of sporangia to the fruiting pinnae unknown. 



Remarks. — This genus in the barren condition ' approaches closely to 

 Rhacophyllum, and in its fruiting branches to Schimper's Triphyllopteris 

 collombi and Dawson's Cyclopteris acadica. 



Alcicornopteris convoluta, n. sp., Kidston. 

 Plate VIII. figs. 11-15. 



Rhacophyllum Lacluca, Kidst. (not Sternb.), Trans. Roy. Soc. Edin., vol. xxx. p. 540. 



Description. — Rachis flattened with a central angular ridge, and dividing 

 by a series of dichotomies. The primary (?) dichotomy forming an obtuse 



