THE FOSSIL FLOEA OF THE YORKSHIRE COAL FIELD. 51 



Description of Specimens. — The largest specimen I have is not so well preserved as 

 those figured, but measures in complete length rather over 9 inches. This example, 

 except in giving the complete length of the cone, is not of any special interest, the 

 structural details being much better shown on other specimens. (Reg. No. 2242.) 



PL I. fig. 1. 



This fossil shows the lower portion of the cone, from the upper remaining part of 

 which the bracts have been shed. The shedding of the bracts at maturity seems to be 

 a characteristic of Sigillarian cones, and one of the distinguishing points between them 

 and Lepidostrobus. 



In some cases the slabs are thickly covered with bracts and portions of denuded axes. 

 On fig. 1 pi. i. the bracts are spread out, and evidently the cone has attained to maturity, 

 as microspores occur on the surface of, and others are shadowed through, the substance 

 of the bracts. At the base of the cone are the spirally arranged narrow setaceous 

 bracts, quite dissimilar to the fruiting bracts. As far as can be observed, there is little 

 transition between the narrow linear leaf-like bracts and the wide rhomboidal sporangi- 

 ferous bracts ; but the former seem to cease suddenly when the sporangiferous bracts 

 take their place. The pedicel is without ribs, but is covered with closely placed small 

 thorn-like points. 



PL I. fig. 2. 



This example shows more distinctly the rhomboidal acuminate form of the bracts 

 still in position. The stem is faintly striated, but cannot be said to be ribbed, and like 

 that in all the other specimens shows also the small apiculi. The bracts show well their 

 ciliate margin, but the cilia are too small to show clearly on figures given in natural size 

 — in which the matrix is represented— but they are very distinctly observable on the 

 originals when examined with a hand lens. A few fragments of the grass-like leaves, 

 which are probably the foliage of the plant which bore these cones, are seen on the slab. 

 |These generally accompany the cones. 



On the pedicel, and especially at the base of the cone, are seen the lanceolate, leaf- 

 like bracts, which do not seem to leave, as far as I have been yet able to observe, any 

 distinct scar, but their base appears to be carried down the stem in a decurrent manner. 



PL I. fig. 3. 



This specimen does not show the individual bracts so well as the other figured 

 examples, but I believe it is referable to the same species. The pedicel, which is long, 

 is not so thick as on the other specimens. One cannot help thinking that such pedicel- 

 late cones must have been pendant — such slender pedicels could scarcely have supported 

 the cone in an upright position. 



