108 



DR ROBERT KIDSTON ON THE 



Neuropteris tenuifolia Schl, sp. 



1820. Filicites tenuifolius, Schlotheim, Petrefactenlcunde, p. 405, pi. xxii. fig. 1. 



1830. Neuropteris tenuifolia, Brongt., Hist. d. veget.foss., p. 241, pi. lxxii. fig. 3. 



1886. ,, ,, Zeiller, Flore foss. bassin houil. d. Valen., p. 273, pi. xlvi. fig. 1. 



Note. — This species seems to be rarer in the South Staffordshire Coal Field than 

 one would naturally expect. This apparent rareness may be the accident of collecting. 

 Horizons and Localities. — 



Blue Measures, six feet above Brooch Coal : Hamstead Colliery, Great Barr. 



near Birmingham. Collected by Mr F. Stephens. 

 Roof of Brooch Coal: Tividale. 



Neuropteris gigantea Sternb. 

 PI. VI. figs. 1 to 7. 



1823. Osmunda gigantea, Sternb., Essai /lore monde prim., vol. i. fasc. ii. pp. 32, 37, pi. xxii. 



1830. Neuropteris gigantea, Brongt., Hist. d. veget.foss., p. 240, pi. lxix. 



1832. „ „ L. & H., Fossil Flora, vol. i. pi. Hi. 



1886. ,, „ Zeiller, Flore foss. bassin houil. d. Valen., p. 258, pi. xlii. fig. 1. 



1892. „ ,, Potonie, "Ueber einige Carbonfarne," iii. Theil, p. 22, text-figs. 1-4; pi. ii. 



figs. 1, 2; pi. iii. figs. 1-4; pi. iv. figs. 1, 2 (Jalirb. d. k. preuss. geol. 



Landesanstalt fur 1891). 

 1910. „ ,, Renier, Paleont. d. terr. houil., pi. c. 



1892. Neuropteris Zeilleri, Potonie, ibid., pp. 22, 32, fig. 5. 

 1899. Neuropteris pseudogigantea, Potonie^ Lehrb. d. Pflanzenpal., p. 113, fig. 102. 



Remarks. — Dr Potonie has divided the plants which formerly were placed under 

 Neuropteris gigantea Sternb. into two species, Neuropteris gigantea Sternberg and 

 Neuropteris pseudogigantea (= Neuropteris Zeilleri Potonie). The difference between 

 these two " species" he has given in tabular form, which I summarise here. # 



Neuropteris gigantea Sternb. 



Pinnules. 

 1. Sickle-shaped, bent. 



2 Obliquely elongate, ovate cordate, narrowing 

 towards the apex. 



3. In general longer than in Neuropteris Zeilleri. 



4. Breadth (measured in the middle) in proportion 



to the length as 1 to 3 or more. 



5. Middle nerve not observable. From below 



dividing into veinlets. At the most only a 

 feeble indication of a middle vein at the base of 

 the pinnule ; generally smooth without furrow ; 

 sometimes a furrow is weakly indicated. 



6. Anastomoses between the veins not at all 



frequent. 



Neuropteris Zeilleri Potonie (subsequently named 

 by Potonij6 Neuropteris pseudogigantea (I.e.)). 



Pinnules. 

 Quite straight (im ganzen gerade). 

 Broadly linear, margins parallel. 



3. Length to about 25 millimetres. 



4. Breadth in regard to the length in rjroportion of 



1 to 21 or 2£. 



5. Middle nerve extending to above the centre of 



the pinnule, distinctly seen and marked by a 

 clear furrow ; mid-vein breaks up into veinlets 

 about the middle of the pinnule. 



6. Anastomoses between the veins apparently more 



frequent. 



* Potoni£, I.e., p. 31. 



