360 MR ROBERT KIDSTON ON THE FOSSIL FLORA OF THE 



usually divided four times, and meeting the margin of the pinnule at an 

 acute angle. Midrib, strictly speaking, absent. Terminal lobe but little 

 enlarged, broadly lanceolate, and generally confluent with uppermost pinnule 

 or pinnules. 



Remarks. — The specimens I identify as Hoffmann's plant agree in all 

 respects with the figures and description given by him. 



Neur. ovata has a great similarity in general appearance to Neur. Jiexuosa, 

 Sternb., but is distinguished from it by constant and well-marked characters. 

 Both species occur in the Radstock Coal Field ; Neur. Jiexuosa is of frequent 

 occurrence, but Neur. ovata is scarcely so common. 



The terminal pinnule in Neur. ovata is never enlarged as in Neur. Jiexuosa. 

 It is usually more or less broadly lanceolate, and at its basal extremity is con- 

 nected with the uppermost pinnule or pinnules. The pinnules are auricled in 

 a manner similar to those of Neur. Jiexuosa, but they do not overlap so much 

 as in the latter-mentioned species. The veins are more arched than in Neur. 

 Jiexuosa, and also appear to be more numerous. 



A few of the upper pinnules are attached by their whole base to the rachis ; 

 the others are articulated by a short, almost imperceptible footstalk. A care- 

 fully enlarged drawing of a pinnule to show the nervation is given at fig. la. A 

 true midrib can scarcely be said to be present. One or two veins, springing 

 from the base of the pinnule, lie almost parallel, but, before reaching the apex, 

 are lost in repeated dichotomies. 



I have excluded from Hoffmann's reference his fig. 8, as there is really no 

 evidence to show that this figure belongs to Neur. ovata, and much less that it 

 should be regarded as the fruit of that species.* 



Heer appears to have included under Neur. Jiexuosa more than one species 

 of Neurojpteris.^ Some of his figures, I believe, should be referred to Neur. 

 ovata {of. pi. ii. fig. 2 ; pi. iii. fig. 2, &c). 



As neither the figure nor the description of the plant given by Romer as 

 Neur. ovata agrees very well with Hoffmann's figures or description, I am 

 doubtful of the correctness of Romer's identification.! 



Neur. ovata is liable to be mistaken for a small form of Neur. Jiexuosa, but 

 a comparison of well-preserved specimens of the two species will, I believe, at 

 once show their specific individuality. 



At fig. 1, Plate XXII., are given some pinnae of Neur. ovata, drawn natural 

 size. 



Localities : — Upper Conygre ; Camerton ; Radstock ; Wellsway. 



* See Kidston, Trans. Roy. Soc. Edin., vol. xxxiii. pt. i. p. 150, 1887. 

 f Flora fow. Helvetia, p. 20, pis. ii. figs. 1-7 ; iii. 1-5; iv. 7-13; v. 2, 3. 

 X PalceontograpTiica, voL ix. p. 28, pi. vi. fig. 1. 



