
          discs and the greater number of the latter constitute the difference
of the Torreya from the Yew. The greater size of the vessels
in the Torreya renders the wood softer and less dense than
the Yew. To enable you to compare the structure
of your tree with that of the yew I shall send you
by Professor Henry sections of the one and figures of
the other.

It may be right to mention that the under sides of the 
horizontal branches of several, indeed of most coniferous
trees, particularly the taxodium disticha [Taxodium distichum], present in the
longitudinal sections numerous decussating lines or
fibres, but these are easily distinguished from those
in the Yew. In the coniferous branches the fibres cross
one another very obliquely, thus [crossed out: a drawing of several lines crossing diagonally at a 90 degree angle, set off by a vertical line at each side] [the crossed out drawing is followed by another drawing of seven vertical lines crossed by diagonal lines drawn from lower left to upper right] and never
occur but in the under sides, the upper sides having
the same structure as the upright stems. At the
Scientific meeting held at Dublin I gave an account
of the peculiarity [crossed out: of] in the structure of the horizontal
coniferous branches.

I am greatly obliged to you for the specimen of
the fossil tree from Illinois and I should have liked had
you mentioned the particulars of its habitat as I may not
be able to see Hennepin's travels. Any other specimens
of American fossil wood particularly from the Coal
formations would be particularly interesting. A specimen
from
        