61 
Ordinary Meeting* December 26th* 1865. 
E. Angus Smith* Ph.D., F.R.S., &c.* President* 
in the Chair. 
Mr. Henry Simpson* M.D., was elected an Ordinary 
Member of the Society. 
Mr. Binney F.R.S., F.G.S., exhibited some singular cal- 
careous nodules found in the lower coal seams of Lancashire 
and Yorkshire* full of beautiful specimens of fossil wood, 
showing structure even to the smallest striae of the tubes. 
These nodules were found in several seams of coal, but were 
always associated, so far as yet known, with beds of fossil 
shells lying immediately above them. 
In one instance the beds occurred in the following 
descending order* namely : — 
Ffc. In. 
1. Black shale full of shells of the genera Aviculo- 
pecten, Goniatites, Posidonia , &c., and con- 
taining calcareous concretions enclosing 
similar shells 1 6 
1. Seam of caking coal with the nodules contain- 
ing the fossil plants 2 0 
3. Floor of fire clay and gannister, full of Stig- 
maria ficoides 2 6 
The fossil wood is found in nodules dispersed throughout 
the coal, some being spherical, and others elongated and flat- 
tened ovals, varying in size from the bulk of a common pea 
to eight and ten inches in diameter. In some portions of the 
seam of coal the nodules are so numerous as to render it 
Peoceedings— Lit. & Phil. Society— Yol. V.— No. 7.— Session 1865-66. 
