415 
which is about two miles to the northward of Newcastle ; and New- 
biggin, about a mile to the westward of Kenton. Those of Kenton 
attend the stratum of coal ; but lie in a bed of blue chiver, about a 
fathom thick, and have another stratum of black chiver of the same 
thickness lying under them. They are generally about six or seven 
•fathom from the coal. Those of Newbiggin are but three fathom 
above the coal. They have not always leaves in them : indeed, not 
above one in five or six. When fresh taken forth, they break diffi- 
cultly and irregularly ; but when exposed awhile to the air, they split 
easily, and part at the leaves. They are of several sizes, from the 
bigness of a walnut to that of a man’s fist. They are found pretty 
plentifully ; and at about the depth of 40 fathom^.” 
The specimens depicted at Plate I. Fig. 8, Plate III. Fig. 6, Plate 
IV. Fig. 1, 2, 3, 4, Plate V. Fig. 5, 6, 10, 11, are all of this kind. 
These specimens are, however, not confined, as appears by Dr. 
Woodward’s account, to the neighbourhood of Newcastle ; being also 
found in Derbyshire, and in Wales ; and, I conjecture, in most places 
where masses of iron-stone accompany coal. Shropshire abounds in 
these fossils. Since the former edition of this volume, I have been 
favoured with a very interesting series of the remains of plants in 
nodules, by Thomas Botfield, Esq. of Hopton Court, Cleobury Mor- 
timer, Shropshire, in whose extensive works they are very abundant. 
The onlv specimens in which I have seen the impressions of leaves 
in silicious stones are such pebbles as are figured at Plate III. Fig. /, 
which are, I believe, but rarely found. The pebble appears to have 
been partly enveloped, whilst in a soft state, in a piece of a leaf, by 
which it has acquired the marks which it bears on its surface. 
Yours, See. 
* Catalogue of English Fossils, Part II. p. 14. 
