336 



THE GEOLOGIST. 



lobes, wliicli they cover as a fringe (PI. xviii. fig. 4) ; but tbe stem and 

 lobes below the nodules very rarely display any spiculse, and often 

 present a smooth surface as if abraded. 



In these stone-beds beaded branches often attracted my attention. 

 These consisted of small lobes close to each other, and about the size 

 of common peas (PI. xviii. fig. 3). I have collected many specimens, 

 and have come to the conclusion that they are parts of these lobed 

 siphonise ; some of these branches are single, others double or bifm^- 

 cate — in one instance trifurcate. The beaded portions often pro- 

 ceed from a thin cylindrical stem. The accompanying illustrative 

 figures in PL xviii. are — Figs. 1 and 2. Lateral branches of siphonia. 

 Fig. 5. Node of stem of siphonia. Fig. 6. Branches of small lobes 

 with a return, or a furcation. Fig. 7. Beaded branch crossing a 

 stem of siphonia, and two other branches or stems. Fig. 8. Sec- 

 tion of a small lobe with stem passing through it. Fig. 9. View of 

 upper surface of the same lobe, covered with what I believe to be 

 spiculse. As to the conjectured mass of spiculse in the last figure, 

 I am in doubt whether to consider it as belonging to the siphonia, 

 or whether to attribute the formation of those spiculse-like objects 

 to crystalline action. Such appearances frequently occur in slabs of 

 stone over spaces of many square inches, seemingly not extending to 

 any depth, but all arranged parallel to each other, and running as a 

 seam through the stone for some distance, and, as far as could be 

 perceived, unconnected in any way with any portions of siphonise or 

 other sponges. In a considerable number of specimens I have no- 

 ticed on the stems and lobes a kind of fringe or border running 

 lengthwise, similar to the ridges left upon the surface of plaster models 

 by the seams in the moulds. These ridges are generally on opposite 

 sides of, and parallel with the stem. 



The hassock beds of this group contain some highly interesting 

 remains of fossil plants. In 1839, I- discovered an exceedingly in- 

 teresting specimen of Draccena — the first specimen of this genus met 

 with in the Lower G-reensand. It is now in the British Museum, 

 and it has been named by M. Konig, Draccena Benstedii.^ 



A paper was read belore the Geological Society, by Dr. Mantell, 

 in 1843, descriptive of a fossil cone which I discovered in the hassock 

 of this group, and presented by me to that eminent geologist. The 

 following extract from the proceedings of that Society may be con- 

 veniently added in this place. 



"The vegetable remains from this quarry are referable to the 

 acotyledonous, monocotyledonous, and dictyledonous classes. They 

 consist of Fucits Targonii, and some intermediate species of the 

 same genus ; of stems, and apparently traces of foliage of endogenous 

 trees allied to Draccena, and trunks and branches of coniferse. 



" The wood occurs both in a calcareous and siliceous state. I have 



* Dnu'ixMia is a genus of plants of the Ordor Liliacesc. Mr. Kouig has neither figured 

 nor described the speeinien so far as we know ; but the name is taken, in Professor 

 Morris's catalogue, apparently from the Museum tablet attached to the specimen. — Ed. 

 Geol. 



