116 DE ROBERT KIDSTON ON THE 



Aphlebia sp. 



1835. Fucoides filiciformis, Gutbier (pars), Ver. d. Zwick. Schwarzk., p. 11, pi. i. fig. 6 (wow figs. 3, 6, 

 7, 8, 13). 



Remarks. — Under the name of Fucoides filiciformis, Gutbier appears to have 

 included more than the remains of one species. That given at his fig. 6, pi. i., seems 

 to be quite distinct from those forms usually included under the name of Aphlebia 

 filiciformis, and to which perhaps most, if not all, of his other figures belong. 



To this fig. 6 I refer a small specimen contained in an ironstone nodule, which, 

 though not too distinctly preserved, shows the slender ramification of this figure ; but 

 until better examples are discovered it is sufficient to record it provisionally under 

 Aphlebia sp. 



Horizon and Locality. — Ten-foot Ironstone Measures : Clayscroft Openwork, 

 Coseley, near Dudley. 



Spiropteris. 



1869. Schimper, Traite d. paleont. veget., vol. i. p. 688. 



Spiropteris sp. 

 PI. VI. figs. 8, 9, and 9a. 



Remarks. — This name has been proposed by Schimper, not in the sense of a genus, 

 but as a convenient designation under which may be placed circinately coiled fronds of 

 ferns or fern-like plants or specimens of fronds that are not fully developed, but which 

 may be of themselves interesting, though they cannot be identified with any definite 

 species. Such specimens of Spiropteris sometimes show the dichotomy of the petiole 

 and the presence of hairs or scales that are produced for the protection of the growing 

 parts, but which are usually shed at an early period of the fronds' development, and 

 often leave no trace of their former presence, as is usually the case in Neuropteris 

 gigantea Sternb., where, as already mentioned, the rachis in the early condition bears a 

 dense covering of scales, but which when shed seldom ever leave any scars to attest 

 their former presence.* 



Two specimens of Spiropteris are given on PL VI. figs. 8-9. Fig. 9 shows natural 

 size a complete young frond with a very thick petiole, bearing transverse scars probably 

 left by fallen scales. At the top, the petiole bifurcates into two circinately coiled 

 branches which bear the circinately coiled pinnae. The upper part of this fossil is seen 

 enlarged 2 times at fig. 9a. Another specimen is given at fig. 8. Here also the 

 petiole dichotomises, and is seen to be marked with close transverse scars and divided 

 into two arms which in turn bear primary pinnae, and these again secondary pinnae, all 

 more or less circinately coiled. 



* See PI. VI. figs, la, b, c. 



