Possible Nezv Coal Plants in Coal. — Grcslcy. 201 
types of plant life than the material we are considering sug- 
gests ; for instance in some of the rods we are reminded of 
resin ducts traversing woody tissues, referable to large erect- 
growing plants, whereas the form under notice would indicate 
one of horizontal growth, worming itself about in marsh or 
lake. Since rods are the characteristic feature of the plant, 
and as they led to its discovery, I concluded to name it the 
"Rod plant" until a better or more botanical n-me be found 
for it or until its alliance with some known plant can be shown. 
The forms of vegetable remains, illustrated in plates IX 
and X, which, by reason of the snake-like markings that frac- 
tures of them commonly reveal, I provisionally term the 
"snake-spotted plant," are very much less numerous than the 
"Rod-plant." While not unlike the latter in possessing two 
zones of quasi rods, this form fails to show so decided a rind 
or epidermal structure, and interrodular tissue. (See fig. 25, 
c c c). We must hope for better material in this connection. 
Of course, like the so-called "rod-plant", exception may be 
taken to regarding this one as a plant ; but reasons why it may 
be so considered are these : — (a) No specimens of it have re- 
vealed anything in the shape of rays, root, or branching pro- 
cesses, etc. (b) Xi^o further material or structure has been 
found attached to the exterior of its supposed rind, "ep" in the 
figures, (c) The general resemblance of form to that of the 
rod-plant ; and (d) The fact that in fragments of the coal 
which enclose other individual specimens of the same thing, 
(see upper end of fig. 31) these appear to be independent and 
separate. 
It is not my wish to stretch, by imagination or otherwise, 
these imperfect representations. After careful search however 
in the standard works of Williamson, Carruthers, Dawson, Se- 
ward, and others, I have failed to recognize in their figures 
or descriptions any of these anatomical structures, and cannot 
but feel bound to regard them as vegetable remains of sulft- 
cient importance to deserve recognition as something, if not 
new at least requiring further investigation. If therefore pale- 
obotanists who may see my drawings, will kindly oblige the 
writer and the editor of this magazine with their views or crit- 
icisms as to the validity of these interpretations, and will state 
