348 S topes. —A New Araucarioxylon from New Zealand. 
than the new one now described, and is very poorly preserved, so that 
accurate comparison is not possible. 
In the following points the new specimen differs from A. Haastii. 
A. Haastii has rather larger tracheides (about 45 ^ as against 25 to 36 p.), with 
less rounding at the corners ; the bordered pits are rounded and separated 
by considerable areas of tracheide wall ; the rays are higher than in the new 
fossil, averaging 2 to 5 cells and running up to as many as 16 ; and the ‘ resin- 
spools ’ are not evident. 1 2 Consequently, the new specimen cannot be the 
same plant as the so-called Araucaria Haastii , and as I am not aware of 
any other specimen with which it might be included, I will therefore pro- 
ceed to name and diagnose it as a new species. 
Araucarioxylon novae zeelandii , sp. nov. 
Diagnosis. Characters of a typical Araucarioxylon . Growth rings 
exceptionally well marked, tracheides uniform, 25 to 36 // in diam., radial 
rows uninterrupted. Tracheides adjacent to medullary rays with noticeably 
thickened walls, filled with c resin ’ which makes very large and conspicuous 
‘ spools ’ on either side of the ray cells in tangential and radial section. 
Rays uniseriate, undifferentiated, 1 to 7 cells high, principally 3 and 4 cells 
high. 
Type. Block and sections, Geological Survey, New Zealand. 
Age. Cretaceous [Mid-Cretaceous?]. 
Locality. Amuri Bluff, New Zealand. 
The existence of such well-defined growth rings in an Araucarian of 
Cretaceous age in this region is of special interest because it affords evidence 
which is strongly presumptive of well-marked seasons. Mr. Allan Thomson 
writes that this is the first piece of evidence obtained in New Zealand on 
this point either from plant or animal fossils. It is well known that among 
living Araucarians annual rings are by no means always clearly developed. 
A resumd of the various views on the annual rings in this family 
is given by Professor R. B. Thomson (T 3 , p. 32), and he says that 
in a Cretaceous species he has found poorly marked growth rings of 
irregular occurrence. The present specimen, however, has such extremely 
well marked rings that there is every reason to see in them true annual 
1 Though I greatly object to naming such poorly preserved material, as this specimen is an 
original type of Ettingshausen’s, and as I have examined new sections of it, and as its name cannot 
stand, I must propose a new name for it. The pitting is very poorly preserved and I cannot see the 
ray pitting at all, but the round widely separated pits leave me in doubt if it is an Araucarian. 
? Araucarioxylon Ettingshauseni , sp. nov. 
Diagn. Tracheides average 45 /x in diam. ; bordered pits rounded and separated ; rays chiefly 
2 to 5 cells high, up to 16. ‘ Resin-spools ’ not evident. 
Type. Ettingshausen’s wood included in his foliage species Araucaria Haastii ; very poorly 
preserved. 
Age. Doubtfully Cretaceous. 
