86 DR ROBERT KIDSTON ON THE 



vein gives off simple or dichotomously divided veinlets, one fork of which goes to 

 each lobe. 



Remarks. — The specimen described here and shown natural size on PI. X. fig. 9 

 seems to be identical with that figured by Zeiller under the name of Sphenopteris bella, 

 but which appears to be specifically distinct from that species. On our plant the 

 rachis bears somewhat distant little thorn-like spines, but these, unless the specimen 

 were well preserved, might not be shown on the fossil. Irrespective of this character, 

 however, the rachis is flexuous, the pinnae deltoid, and the pinnule lobes more spreading 

 than those of Sphenopteris (Hapalopteris) bella Stur. # The plant has also a much 

 more lax type of growth. If the enlargement of the pinnules given here twice natural 

 size on PL X. fig. 9a be compared with the enlargement of the pinnules of Sphenopteris 

 bella Stur, the difference will be clearly seen.f In Sphenopteris bella the pinnules are 

 smaller, the lobes more truncate and not so spreading, which gives a much denser 

 character of growth to the frond. The pinnae are also narrower, not so deltoid as in 

 Sphenopteris deltiformis, and the rachis is straight. 



The specimen was collected by Mr H. W. Hughes, F.G.S. 



Horizon and Locality. — Whitestone : Racecourse Pit, Round Oak. 



Sphenopteris Kilimlii Kidston, n. sp. 

 PI. V. fig. 3. 



1899. Sphenopteris (Renaultia?) Aschenborni, Zeiller (non Stur), Mem. Soc. geol. d. France, Mem. 

 No. 21, p. 14, pi. i. figs. 15, 15a. 



Description. — Frond quadripinnate, primary pinnae lanceolate ; secondary pinnae 

 alternate approximate, lanceolate, rachis straight, finely striated longitudinally ; 

 tertiary pinnae alternate approximate, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, rachis winged 

 and bearing 3-8 pairs of alternate pinnules ; pinnules oval or oblong-oval, placed close 

 together but seldom touching, contracted into a broad footstalk, slightly directed 

 forward, decurrent ; lowest pinnule on upper side (anadrome) bears 3-6 lateral simple 

 lobes, with a blunt or bifid point, basal lobe on distal side of pinnule separated from 

 tertiary rachis by a narrow sinus, terminal lobe bifid or simple ; basal pinnule on under 

 side (catadrome) of rachis occupying a middle position in angle formed by union of 

 secondary and tertiary rachises and not touching either with any of its parts ; middle 

 pinnules with fewer simple or bifid segments ; uppermost pinnules simple or bifid ; 

 surface of pinnules with a roughened appearance. 



Nervation : central vein straight, giving off alternate simple or dichotomous veinlets, 

 one branch of which ends in each tooth or segment. 



Remarks. — The lower tertiary pinnae are more broadly lanceolate than those on the 

 upper part of the secondary pinnae. This is seen on Plate V. fig. 3, where the 



* Die Fame: Carbon- Flora Hchatz. Schicht., p. 50, pi. xlii. figs. 1, 2. 



t See Kidston, Mem. Muse'e rorj. d'hist. nat. de Belgique, vol. iv. pi. vi. fig. 1. 



