from the Coal Measures of Torbane-hilL 
53 
The cellular appearances more generally diffused than the other ? — Yes, 
much more generally. 
Do you consider you have in that way evidence of the vegetable compo- 
sition of the Torbanehill mineral ? — Yes, certainly. 
And of the same character generally as the other cannel coals that you 
examined ? — Precisely. 
[Here several drawings were handed to the witness, and he was asked to 
explain them. 
In the first drawing, which was of the Torbanehill mineral, witness 
stated the sections showed the vegetable structure, and also the scalariform 
vessels, with the bars upon it, very distinctly.] 
Is that the kind of structure that is seen in modern tree ferns ? — Yes. 
The next drawing exhibits three sections, — the Lesmahagow, the Capel- 
drae, and the Torbanehill coal, — showing precisely similar structure. They 
are a little different in colour, but the same in structure. There are also 
sections of the Torbanehill and Methil in the drawings, showing the same 
appearance and structure in both these. Another drawing of the separate 
individual shales shows distinctly the appearance of separate cells, both in 
the Torbanehill coal, in the Lesmahagow coal, and in the Capeldrae coal. 
And, in fact, we find these in various other coals. 
The cell is the base of the organic structure of these vegetables ? — Yes. 
It is the accumulation of cell upon cell that builds up the structure ? — 
Yes. 
Judging microscopically, then, and also with your knowledge of fossil 
botany, would you draw the inference that the Torbanehill was of the 
same, or of a different class of substances from the other cannel coals that 
you have mentioned ? — The same class as of the cannel coals I have seen. 
The only difference, I understand you to say, is the difference in the 
tinge of colour ? — Yes, and that occurs in many coals. 
You don't think that essential in deciding the question ? — I do not. 
- Cross-examined hy the Dean of Faculty. — These observations are made 
upon a thin section ? — Yes. 
Who made the sections ? — They were made by Professor Harkness, Dr. 
Aitken, Dr. Redfern, and Mr. Glen. 
Would you mark upon each the name of the gentleman who did them ? 
— Yes, to the best of my recollection. 
[Here witness marked each section as requested.] 
Have you yourself been accustomed to make such sections ? — I have 
made sections for the microscope. 
Have you much practice with the microscope ? — Yes, it is part of my 
course. 
In reference to existing plants ? — Yes, and also to fossil plants. I have 
a large collection of fossil sections. 
With regard to this drawing here [holding up one of those previously 
described by witness], that represents the impression of an individual fossil 
plant ? — That represents only a portion of a plant, the vascular part of the 
vascular tissue of a plant, approaching nearly to the scalariform tissue. 
Do you mean that the tissue is there, or the impression on the plant ? — 
The tissue is there. 
In this other portion of the seam, then, which is coloured brown, you do 
not observe any structure ? — I did not examine particularly. 
But does this represent what you saw on that occasion ? — Yes. 
Then there is no appearance of structure there ? — I cannot say. 
There is no structure represented there ? — No. 
All that you found in this particular section is the representation of part 
of a fossil plant ? — Yes. 
