FOSSIL FLORA OF THE STAFFORDSHIRE COAL FIELDS. 163 



held in position by carbonate of lime ; that at fig. 7 shows the impression of the outer 

 surface of the seed. In this half there were also originally a few remains of the 

 internal structure, but so imperfect that they threw no light on the organisation of the 

 seed. They were therefore removed with acid, so that the appearance of the outer 

 surface of the seed could be seen. A plastocene cast was made from this, and from it 

 the photograph given at fig. 7 was taken. Fig. 8 is from the cast of another specimen, 

 from which the contained matter was similarly removed with acid. 



The outer surface of the seed is seen to have numerous longitudinal narrow bands 

 which project on the surface ; they are not equally distant from each other, and 

 frequently bend somewhat to one side or the other. 



They sometimes run in pairs, but are more commonly single, and converge towards 

 the base of the seed. In one case at least these bands seem to unite. On the half 

 shown at fig. 8 these bands are seen more distinctly on the cast than in the photo- 

 graphs, but are fairly distinctly represented on the figures, especially on fig. 8, where 

 there are about thirty of them on the exposed surface. 



These bands more probably represent sclerenchymatous fibres than a vascular 

 system, but one cannot speak with certainty on this point. 



On the upper part of the seed, that occupied by the pollen chamber and micropyle, 

 the outer surface seems to have been slightly ribbed. 



What remains of the internal organisation can be best understood by referring to 

 fig. 6a, which shows the specimen given at fig. 6, enlarged 2 times. 



The micropyle is seen at a, springing from the roof of the pollen chamber b. At c 

 is preserved what is probably the upper part of the nucellus. The stony layer or 

 sclerotesta is seen at d, at e the remains of the contracted prothallus, and at f the 

 cavity originally occupied by the sarcotesta or soft outer layer, now filled with lime. 



The teeth-like points seen on the outer wall of the pollen chamber between the 

 letters a and b are sections of the ribs of the sclerotesta on the upper part of the seed, 

 broken through obliquely. 



It is impossible to refer this seed, with our present scanty knowledge, to any definite 

 plant, but the external characters do not seem to differ in any way from the seeds 

 of Neuropteris. They possess the same striated outer surface, and differ only from 

 those of Neuropteris heterophylla and Neuropteris obliqua in form and in being 

 broader, or more oval. It is slightly smaller than the largest known seed of 

 Neuropteris heterophylla, which is about 5 cm. long, while those of Neuropteris 

 obliqua are even larger, though their full length is not known. # 



That it is Pteridospermous there seems little reason to doubt. 



I have pleasure in naming this fossil after Professor F. W. Oliver, F.R.S., to whom 

 we owe so much for our knowledge of the Carboniferous seeds. 



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

 Coseley, near Dudley. Collected by Mr H. W. Hughes. 



* See Kidston and Jongmans, Archives Ne'erlandaises d, Sc. exacles et nat., ser. iii., B, vol. i. p. 25, plate, 1911. 



