30 DESCRIPTION OF FOSSIL TREES DISCOVERED 



irregular intervals with a kind of transverse rugae or irregular prominences. 

 The bark was converted into coal, and presented indistinct longitudinal 

 markings, with very small transverse ridges. At some of the prominences 

 the rugae were contorted, so as to exhibit the appearances which the bark of 

 some recent trees present, at the coming off of the branches. 



That the forms of fossil trees are frequently much altered prior to their 

 consolidation, or during the process of petrifaction, there can be no doubt. 

 The shapes themselves, and the circumstances in which the fossils are dis- 

 covered, often sufficiently bear evidence to the fact, that pressure and other 

 agents have been at work. But recourse has often been had to this mode 

 of explanation in cases where it could not apply, and when one much more 

 easy was at hand. It is by no means uncommon to find amongst recent 

 trees forms similar to those of fossil plants, which have been ascribed to 

 pressure and other external causes. The flattening of this fossil tree is only 

 similar to what exists in living nature, although, for various reasons, I am 

 unwilling to believe that to be the case in this splendid specimen of primeval 

 vegetation. 



The usual way of accounting for such flattenings is by pressure, al- 

 though, in the present case, where the tree is not parallel to the strata, it is 

 rather difficult to suppose its form to be owing to that cause. The pressure 

 by loose sand, or by sand mixed with water, would act all round the stem, 

 and so would not flatten it ; but, if we suppose that the tree, in its recent 

 state, was carried along by a torrent of water and sand, and left sticking, 

 as the latter consolidated, it would afterwards begin to decay, when the 

 hardened strata would necessarily press down upon it, and so produce the 

 flattening ; and those parts of the stem which decomposed rapidly, would 

 naturally shew the effect of pressure most, — and such, I believe to have been 

 the case with the stem under consideration. 



Several scientific gentlemen having stated as their opinion that this fos- 

 sil is a Lycopodium, I may here mention the reasons why I have come to a 

 different conclusion. There is no appearance of insertions of leaves on any 

 part of it, nor any markings similar to those of the scales of palms or ferns, 

 or the imbricated leaves of the Lycopodia. Judging from external appear- 



