148 THE GEOLOGIST. 



Ichthyodorulite seems occasionally preserved, and there are also other 

 indeterminate fragments of bone. 



Not having had access to Mr. Salter's monograph, I am not able to 

 pronounce upon the species of crustaceans found in these beds. We 

 have at least several very large Pterygoti, judging from the sculptured 

 rings of the abdomen, their curious jaw-feet and prehensile limbs ; 

 and I should think both Himantopterus and Eurypterus. I have care- 

 fully treasured all the crustacean remains that I have found, in the 

 hope of light yet reaching us in this remote region as to their generic 

 and specific character. All that I can affirm is, that we must have 

 had an abundant development of the family in the era when our 

 rocks were laid down, of all sizes, from half an inch to many feet, and 

 with various styles of ornamentation. There also occur numerous 

 pieces of shell or skin, sometimes torn, but at other times bounded 

 by straight lines, drawn in black in the stone, and which an humble 

 friend of mine compared to the pieces — of course, in miniature — of 

 which a black cloth coat on the back of a human subject is composed. 

 We must not omit to mention a very peculiar form, which has been 

 named the Kampecaris, from its resembling the impression in the 

 stone of a butterfly-caterpillar, and which I have often thought might 

 be the larval form of some of our crustaceans. 



Our plant-remains, like those of Kidderminster, are for the most 

 part badly preserved, although in some layers they are very abundant. 

 Onr most common and characteristic organism is the Parlca decipiens, 

 which, occurring over three counties in Scotland, viz. Kincardine, 

 Forfar, and Fifeshire, has 'now also been detected in England. I do 

 not know on what ground it can be spoken of as Pterygotean ova. 

 It is true, our quarry men, in their rude northern phrase, call it "pud- 

 dock crud," or the spawn of frogs, but they are chiefly familiar with 

 the fossil as it occurs in the more micaceous beds, known in commerce 

 as Arbroath pavement," where it is always much broken and dis- 

 persed. I still believe it to be vegetable. I have several specimens 

 with the seeds (?) inclosed in a sort of spathe, the sides of which 

 radiate from a base or disc, to which is attached apparently a stem. 

 Tliere are also several distinct bodies which might correspond with 

 the spores of Lt/copodkicece, besides many other obscure vegetable 

 forms. On the whole, therefore, there is a striking similarity between 



