187 



The fossil trees found in a quarry at St. Helen's were then 

 described, as exhibiting the stems of Sigillaria absolutely- 

 united to the roots of Stigmaria, thus first proving the 

 identity of these two hitherto supposed difi*erent plants. 

 (See Philosophical Magazine and Transactions, 1844 and 

 1845.) 



And the author came to the following conclusions, 

 namely : — That plants of the genus Sigillaria were the 

 chief constituents of such beds of Coal as those in which 

 Stigmaria was found in the floors. That such vegetable 

 matter had undoubtedly been grown on the spots where it 

 is now found, and not drifted from a distance. And lastly, 

 that each seam of Coal indicated a period of repose of the 

 earth's crust, during which a separate marine forest of 

 vegetation grew, in the successive subsidences of the area 

 on which the Coal Measures were formed ; the sandy, silty, 

 and argillaceous strata known as Coal Measures, having been 

 caused chiefly by currents of water produced by subsidences 

 of the earth's crust, whilst the Coal Seams themselves were 

 formed from plants grown during the periods of repose of 

 such crust. 



Mr. BiRAM exhibited and explained the construction of an 

 improved Anemometer. 



The Secretary read a communication from Dr. Inglis, 

 explanatory of an engraving of a Fossil Nautilus, found 

 near Halifax, which he presented to the Society, and 

 which was inserted in the last number of the Transactions. 



Thanks to the Authors of the papers, and to Mr. Biram 

 and Dr. Inglis, were voted. 



