from the Coal Measures of Torbaiie-hill. 
59 
say. It represents a modification of the vascular structure ul' plants 
called technically the scalariform structure. I can compare it best l)y 
comparing it with an old basket. It is an unequivocal vegetable structiii-c. 
What occurs in its neighbourhood in the rest of the section ? — This 
was the whole that I saw. The other portion was not ground so thin, 
and I could not see what it corisisted of ; but judging from the traces of 
these vessels at the extreme edges, I have no reason whatever to doubt, 
that if the remainder of the section had been ground sufficiently thin, we 
would have seen the continuation of that structure. 
But the other cells that you described here are diffused tii rough the 
entire mass of the substance ? — In all the specimens I examined it was 
uniform throughout the whole. It was exceedingly well marked in the 
one that represents the transverse section of the cells. 
You get the width of the cells more distinctly when you cut the 
transverse section? — You get the area more distinctly shown. 
Cross-examined hy the Dean of Facidty. — Can you explain to me what 
are infusoria? — Infusoria represent minute animals invisible to the naked 
eye — visible only to the microscope. 
Where do you find them ? — ^It is very difficult to say where you do not 
find them. Generally they are sought for in fluids. 
You find them in minerals also ? — I am not prepared to answer that 
question. I am not sufficiently acquainted with the subject to venture 
to answer it. 
Then you cannot tell me what appearance they present when found in 
minerals when examined under the microscope — No, I am not aware of 
their occurring. 
Professor Harkness. — Examined hy Mr. Young. 
Professor Harkness, you are Professor of Geology in Queen's College, 
Cork? — Yes. 
You succeeded Dr. Nicol ? — About six months ago. 
You have devoted considerable attention to the study of geology ? — 1 
have. 
And also to the examination of objects by the microscope? — Yes, so far 
as relates to fossil plants. 
You have visited Torbanehill ? — I have. 
You went down one of the pits ? — I was down two of them. 
And examined the mineral as it lay in the earth ? — Yes. 
And made yourself acquainted with its geological composition ? — I 
found it to occur in the proper coal measures. 
Exactly in the position you would expect to find coal? — Decidedly so. 
You found nothing whatever in its geological composition to lead you 
for a moment to doubt that it was coal ? — Nothing ; on the contrary, 
everything to induce me to believe that it was coal. 
Did you form any opinion upon the mineral itself? — I formed the 
opinion, that from the appearance of the mineral it was a coal. 
Did you take some specimens of the mineral away — Yes, I did, for the 
purpose of making a more careful examination. 
And after that examination you retained your opinion ? — I did. 
And your opinion now is that it is a coal? — Decidedly so, without any 
manner of doubt. 
Did you make some sections of the mineral which you took away with 
the view of microscopic examination ? — So far as regarded fossil plants. 
Did you find the structure familiar ? — I found the structure peculiar, 
and the fossils characteristic of the coal formation. 
How many structures ai'e there in coal and coal plant ? — Tliere are two 
