260 



THE GEOLOGIST. 



In Xova Scotia these older coal-measm-es, ns compared with the true coal- 

 nieasm-es, ai-e more calcareous, more rich in remains of fishes, and have fewer 

 vegetable remains, and indications of terrestrial surfaces. They occm- generally 

 alonir the margins of the coal-areas, near their old shores ; and, as might be ex- 

 pected mider snch cu'cnmstances, they are associated with or replaced by beds of 

 con2"lomeraLe derivea tV vii t'le iio'a-lilHniring highlands of Devonian or Sihu'ian 

 rocks. A'^Tien the . _ . - : -.iit. alternations of sandstones with sandy 



and calcai-eous sha'.- .. .. i . _ ;;^iit changes in character of the organic 



remains; the general a-pee: being that of nnuldy estuarine deposits, accumulated 

 very slowly, and disouioured l>y decaying organic sulistances. The supply of sedi- 

 ment, and' the growth and preservation of vegetable matter, appear to have been 

 srenerallv on a smaller scale in. rliis early carboniferous period than subsequently, 

 in thoso '1>::''., :- wlvare tl:e tvr.e a.l-nioasnrcs are least developed, the lower 

 series is ■.. •: rtant : >1i..av:uj tluu the pliy>k-al and vital conditions of the 

 Coal-inea-v.-.\--> . vL-:n;::cd as early as those of Mountain-limestone ; and that locally 

 these considerations niav liave been contemporaneous throughout the whole period; 

 but that in -:'nie l:valiT:e' ilie estuary and swamp deposits first formed were com- 

 ply : b - . ; _ ' 1 ' v-ad l y oceanic deposits, whilst in others early marine 

 bab- . - b__ . . _ 1 . . , - . . :ad to the conditions of gradual subsidence and vege- 

 talb^e growths inbdeatcd in the great coal-measures of the South Joggins, Pictou, 

 and Sidney. 



In Xova Scotia tlie T.^ ■v. -. r C'^al-naeasitres are characterized by a great prepon- 

 deranao ■ ; Z _ - - - _ /_ iVjc^Vt^. The Middle Coal- 



measure> ara b bi b a;:b l"ei'n-. a- wdl :\< LqridodauJra. The Upper 



Coal-measm-e- - ly aboimd in Conifers, Calamites, and Ferns. Pala-oniscm, 

 GyroUpis or -i. ^ Centrodus, Rkizodm, and Ctenacanihus are the chief fossil 

 fishes of tills Lower Carbomferous series. Unio-like shells are nearly the onlj- 

 remains of Molluscs. 



4. On the Sti-n : :va a: S-Ujmaria ficoidcsr By E. ^\. Binney, Esq., F.G.S. 

 The author, ha-'' 1 met with sevaral specimens of this singular root 



which exhibit good ^ra-actiiral characters, was enabled in this paper to throw some 

 additional light on the origin of the ir.eJnllary rays in Siigmaria, the nature of 

 the vascular bundles which were believed to be dispersed tlu-oughout its pith, and 

 the structure of the central or vascular portion of its rootlet, — points of consider- 

 alile interest, and whicli up to the present time have not l^een well determined. 

 Mr. Bimiey confirms Dr. Hooker's view of the medullary rays having originated 

 in the cellular axis of the stem. The axis, in one of the author's specimens, is 

 seen to be filled ^^-itll eleven or twelve large vessels, each ab^out 1-lOth of an ineli 

 in diameter, anbi baaaln, A\-yy i.bb.ek v. alls : these elv'>ngated utricles lie close together, 

 are not dispersed i:i a cellular tissue, are S'amewhat shnllar to those described by 

 M. Brougniart as occm-ring in the woody part of SifiUlaria ehf/ans. In a rootlet 

 Mr. Binney finds eviden.ce of an outer ring of fine cellular tissue, three or foiu' 

 cells broad, an/ ' ' ' be middle space twenty-seven large, and eleven 



smaller vessel , ,. . \ ascular ti^^ne l-90th of an inch in diameter, 



the vessels or uiiivle- " dug bb.btmctly marked with transverse striae. 



5. '"'On a Xew Fossil Fern from AVorcesterslr.re.'" By John Morris, Esq., F.G.S. 

 A few fi-agir. ;-.:- :ba:i-la vb- f. -uiid by Mr. G. Roberts, of Kidderminster, in 



a micaceous illc- n.^rth-east of Bewdley, exibit a reticulate 



venation; a cb. a , ... a, dy rare in the Coal-measures. These specimens 



are but fragments . ; c . b. nd; and the one particularly referred to is probably 

 tho terminal part > ; a pbaa.ia. The author doubtfully referred it to the genus 

 Woodwardites, with the specific name JRobertdi. 



^]\ray 12. 1S5S. — 1. '-On some of the Glacial Phenomena of Canada and of the 

 Kortli-oa.^tern l^'o^^nces of the United States dui-ing the Drift-periodb' Bv Prof. 

 A. C. Biunsay, F.B.S , F.G.S. 



The autlior first described the evidently glaeialized condition of the great 



