714 APPENDIX I. 
4. FOSSIL PLANTS. 
ContFerz.—The large stumps and trunks of trees in the coal deposits of New Hol- 
land, (pages 484, 491,) were long since examined by Mr. William Nicoll,* and shown 
to belong to Coniferz. 
In addition to these remains of wood, little is found of the rest of the coniferous plants. 
This absence of leaves and fruit has been explained in our remarks on the origin of the 
Australian coal beds. Alluvial depositions do not contain large deposits of leaves, since 
these lighter parts are borne away and scattered far and wide by rapid currents. The 
trunks of pines occur above and below the coal seams, rather than within these seams ; 
and while the latter bear every evidence of the gentlest depositions, the former prove as 
clearly that there had been a change to a condition of less quiet waters. 
Fruit scales—There are a few remains of fruit scales which appear to belong to this 
tribe of plants, and some of them approach those of the genus Taxodium. 
1. Plate 12, fig. 1.—Ovate ; 11 lines long, and 7 broad; much convex, apex rounded. 
Surface smooth with indistinct veinings, and no trace of a midrib. Concave at base 
where it was attached. 
2. Plate 12, fig. 2—Obovate, somewhat convex; a little elevated along the centre; 
surface smooth. About 7 of an inch long, and nearly half as broad. 
3. Plate 12, fig. 83.—Broad suborbicular, very convex, most so towards the borders ; 
quite thin, and having a delicately veined structure. Base, for attachment, slightly con- 
vex. Length 9 lines, breadth 11 lines. Margin of attachment 57 lines. 
4. Plate 12, fig. 4.—Ovate, acuminate and acute at apex, convex, smooth, not dis- 
tinctly veined. Length 2 inch, and breadth half the length. 
5. Plate 12, fig. 5 a.—An oblong scale, probably like fig. 2. 
6. Plate 12, fig. 5 b.—Very short ovate, with a truncate base and obtuse apex. Sur- 
face smooth, somewhat convex. Length 3 lines; breadth 23 lines. 
7. Plate 12, fig. 6.—Very broad triangulato-ovate (rather broader than long); base 
truncate, apex acute. Surface smooth. Length nearly half an inch. 
8. Plate 12, fig. 7.—A scale nearly like the last, but proportionally a little longer ; 
connected at base with a cluster of granules or an irregular, uneven surface, apparently 
from the fruit to which the scale was attached. 
9. Plate 12, fig. 8a,—A cluster or uneven surface like that just mentioned, with imper- 
fectly preserved scales attached, somewhat like that in fig. 7. ‘The drawing represents the 
appearance and colour of the spot, as it is seen on the light clay. 
10. Plate 12, fig. 8 6.—A scale, nearly like fig. 6, very broad triangulato-ovate ; base 
truncate and nearly as broad as the scale; apex obtusish; no midrib; somewhat convex. 
On either side an oblong piece, apparently detached or torn from the scale by pressure. 
11. Plate 12, fig. 8 c.—Small ovate, 14 lines long; obtuse at apex, base truncate and 
nearly as broad as the scale. 
12. Plate 12, fig. 8 d—This may be a torn fragment from some leaf or scale; yet it 
appears to be complete. 
* Edinb. New. Phil. Jour., Sept., Jan., 1832-1833, p. 155. Mr. Nicoll’s specimens were received from 
Rev. C. P. N. Wilton, of Newcastle, who collected them from different localities, Newcastle, Macquarie 
Lake and other places. 
