84 
NATURAL HISTORY. (Fossils.) 
[north 
those genera which are generally supposed to belong to the family of 
Lycopodiace^:, of which Lepidodendron of Sternberg ( Sagenaria of 
Presl. ) is the principal one. Much uncertainty still prevails in the deter- 
mination of the genera and species of this family. Some of them ap- 
pear to exhibit an internal structure intermediate between that of the 
Lycopodiacese and the Coniferce; but Lepidodendron punctatum of 
Sternberg, (of the unique specimen of which, in Mr. Cotta’s collection, 
a portion is seen in Case 3,) presents the organization of a real arbo- 
rescent fern. Nearly allied to the Lepidodendra are several vegetable 
fossils, considered as distinct genera, among which may be specified 
I^epidophyllum and Lepidostrobus (Case 4) of Brongniart, (the 
former perhaps only the leaves, the latter the fruits of species of Lepi- 
dodendron or Lycopodites,) the Ulodendron ( Lepidod . ornatissimum, 
Sternb. ), the JBothrodendron of Lindley, the Rhytidolepis of Sternb. , &c. 
In the upper division of Case 5 are placed the species of Sigillaria,. 
(including Favularia, ) Brong. , which are very distinct in their structure 
from arborescent Ferns, with which they have by some been arranged. 
To these also belongs the Megaphyton Nbhd. ; of which the original 
specimen figured and described by Artis is deposited here. In the 
lower division of the same Case are seen some very interesting vege- 
table remains, some of which undoubtedly are referable to the family of As - 
PHODELEiE, such as the Dracaena Benstedii, (from the Iguano don quarry 
near Maidstone,) so called after the discoverer of the fine specimens pre- 
sented to the Museum. To these are added very perfect specimens, 
from Dr. Mantell’s collection, of the Clathraria L^yellii from the Weal- 
den : the generic name, formerly synonymous with Sigillaria, is now ex- 
clusively given to this remarkable vegetable. Sternbergia transverse 
of Artis, (Artisia of Sternberg,) hitherto described and figured from 
very imperfect specimens, also probably belongs to this natural order. 
Another interesting vegetable of Dr. Mantell’s discovery is the Endo - 
genites erosa, of which many specimens from Hastings, &c., are de- 
posited, exhibiting its structure : it seems related to the Palmee, and i& 
no doubt a congener of Cotta’s Porosus marginatus , of which a speci- 
men is added ; but neither of those generic appellations appear to be 
admissible. There are also remains of real Palmje in this Case, such 
as the fruits from Sheppey,the cut and polished specimens of wood from 
Antigua, &c. Whether or not Noggerathia flabelliformis and a related 
species are referable to them, remains doubtful. 
The upper division of Case 6 contains only specimens of Stigmaria , 
a genus totally distinct from any other known of the natural orders of 
Lycopodiacese or Filices, to both of which its species have been referred 
by authors. Their internal structure, as proved by transversal sections 
of the stem, approximates to that of the Euphorbiaceje. Below these, 
in the same Case, are placed various interesting specimens belonging to 
species of genera of Conifers, such as Pinus , Araucaria , Thuytes , 
Volzia , Brachypliyllum, &c. In another part of the same Case are 
deposited interesting remains of the natural order of Cycaheje, (among 
which may be specified the fine specimens from the oolitic formation 
at Whitby,) of various species of Pterophyllum , Zamia , Ctenis, and (on 
the top of the Case) the globular trunks (two of them cut and polished) 
of Mantellia nidiformis of Brongniart, from the oolite of Portland. — ■ 
Various other vegetable remains, especially of Dicotyledonous plants, 
