70 NATURAL HISTORY. [NORTH 
ruination 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 Coniferae; 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 
Lepidophyllum 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 Bothrodendron of Lindiey, 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 Nohd. ; 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- 
PHODELEi£, such asthe Dracaena Benstedii, (from the Iguanodon 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 Lyellii from the Weal- 
den : the generic name, formerly synonymous with Sigillaria, is now ex¬ 
clusively given to this remarkable vegetable. Sternbergia transversa 
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 Palmse, and is 
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 Paliyle 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. f 
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 Euphorbiace^:. Below these, 
in the same Case, are placed various interesting specimens belonging to 
species of genera of Coniferae, such as Pinus, Araucaria , Thuytes, 
Volzia , Brachyphyllum , &c. In another part of the same Case are 
deposited interesting remains of the natural order of Cycade^e, (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, 
such as those from the fresh water formation of Oeningen, &c., will 
hereafter be arranged in Table Cases to be made for their reception. 
On the lower shelves of the Cases 3, 4, and 5, is placed a very ex- 
