NOTES AND QUERIES. 
77 
curve inwards to join the hinge margin. The "beak ridges/' or "lateral 
ridges" are well displayed in such shells as Waldheimia resiqmiata, W. numis- 
malis, etc. 
Figs. 3 and 4.— Terehratula. 
t, larger, or ventral valve ; k, smaller, or dorsal valve ; a, beak ; t, foramen truncating the 
extremity of the beak ; j*, deltidium ,' surrounding a portion of the foramen ; x, beak ridge ; 
V, flattened or shghtly concave space between the beak ridge and hinge line ; I, umbo or 
beak of the dorsal valve. 'X'. DAVIDSON. 
EossiL Pern. — I hare 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 4Gi 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 squamoe, or scales, are very 
deciduous ; and two-thirds of them fall off before the frond attain^ 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. — G. W. Crockee, 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 of Peroxide of Iron on Animal Life. — Dear Sir, the late 
Sir H. De la Bcchc, 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 
