NOTES AND QUEEIES. 



77 



curve inwards to join the hinge margin. The "beak ridges," or "lateral 

 ridges" are well displayed in such shells as WaldJieimia resiqrinata, W. numis- 

 malis, etc. 



Fossil Pern. — I have unsuccessfully searched the last number of "The 

 Geologist" for any information concerning the interesting specimen of a fossil 

 plant from the coal-measures of South Wales, figured at page 461 of the last 

 volume. 1 am quite ignorant of the flora of the coal period ; but having had 

 some experience among recent plants, I was at the first glance led to the con- 

 clusion that the specimen is a partially developed frond of some fern. There is 

 nothing leading us to suppose that the stem has any connection with Lycopo- 

 diacese. There are many species among recent ferns the young fronds of which 

 would present precisely similar appearances. In Polystichum and Cyrtomium 

 for instance, (not to mention other genera,) the stipes and rachis will be found 

 quite as shaggy as in the plant figured. A partially developed frond of Cyrto- 

 mium would also present the same appearance (if pressed flat) in regard to 

 having the pinnae all on one side of the rachis. Older fronds upon the same 

 plant would not appear half so shaggy, as their squamae, or scales, are very 

 deciduous ; and two-thirds of them fall off before the frond attains its full size. 

 The form of the whole frond shows that its vernation was circinate, another 

 proof, if it were needed, that the plant was a fern. 



I quite agree with Dr. G. P. Bevan, that we sadly need some new and com- 

 prehensive work upon fossil plants. But in the meantime the publication of 

 such new and interesting species as the present in the pages of this magazine 

 would greatly enlarge our knowledge of them. Our metropolitan museums 

 would furnish ample material for such a work, if any person of note could be 

 prevailed upon 1o take the matter in hand. — C. W. Crocker, Kew. 



This subject has not escaped our attention, and has already been the subject 

 of conversation with a thoroughly competent gentlemen, whom we hope to induce 

 to undertake the task. — Ed. Geol. 



Influence oe Peroxide oe Iron on Animal Liee. — Dear Sir, the late 

 Sir H. De la Beche, in the Mem. Geol. Surv. of Great Britain, vol. i., page 51, 

 says, "We have made experiments to ascertain the influence of peroxide of iron 



