IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // "^ {•/ ^ *' J!. ~ '/^ ^ < *<,o .''; ' '■ V ■% ■ •■« • m: ■'. 'M -Xim.::,^--i. ■;-;^*i| ;>•%.:' •'«; *■ * '■■■m. :^>^:,:,^# >#'•• ,P''- • ■-.M'-'m "#:^^: ' * •f S'^'': •Ml.,. ■t'.;, '^. -jl^. •*v-: J *. ■ t- J',*, aft'" ;S. ■' 'J'tti; „>: 't^ I ■5 ^L-- ■-^i^'' i- 'Sfe? - '^^' ^ ifiv INDEX TO GENERA OF FOSSIL PLANTS. • "■ 'i.. f »4- ■ :^, SP' >i « » ■f # PAOK. I PAGE ... 54 Megalopteria '.... 61 ik. Alelhopteris Anarthrocanna 27 Nematoxylon Aneimiteg 46 ' Nephropteris Annulwia 31 ' Neuropteris Antholithes 63 ! Noeggerathia Aporoxylon 20 ! Noeggerathia (Bynonym of Cordaites). Araucaroxylon (synonym ofDadoxylon)* 12 Archaeopteris 45 Arthrostigma 41 Aspidites 56 Asterophyllites 27 Bornia (synonym of Calamites) 24 Calamites 25 20 47 49 66 46 Noeggerathia (synonym of Oyclopteris).. 47 Orraoxylon 14 Pachytheca 79 Palaeopteris (synonym of Cyclopteris).... 47 Pecopteris 66 Piunularia 33 Protopteris 69 Calamodendron . 24 I Prototaxites 16 Callipteris 51 Cardiocarpum 60 Carpolithes 62 Caiilopteris '■ 59 Cordaites 43 Cyathites 56 Cyclopteris 45 Cycloatigma 43, 76 Cyperites 24 Dadoxylou 12 Didymophyllum 23 Bophyton 19, 79 Gyromices (synonym of Spirorbis) 44 Hymenophyllites 53 Lepidodendron 33 Lepidophloios 36 Leptophleum 36 Lycopodites , 34 Psaronius 58 Psilophyton 37 Pychaophyllum (synonym of Cordaites).. 43 Rhachiopteris 67 Sagenaria (syn. of Cyclostigma).. 22, 43, 76 Sagenaria (synonym of Lepidodendron).. 33' Sigillaria 21 Sphenophyllura 32 Sphenopteris 26 Spirophyton (J6 Sporangites 63 Sternbergia 21 Stigmaria 22 Syringodendron '. 22 Syringoxylon .' 64 Trichomanites 66 Trigonocarpum 62 Ulodendron (synonym of Lepidophloios). 30 * A few titioeric terms, r^ectedior not uwd in the text, are introduced here to facilitate reference. a 7 / (i^^ m 7 '*. * :#; * .*' REPORT ON TBI FOSSIL LAND PLANTS or THB DEVONIAN AND UPPER SILURIAN FORMATIONS OF CANADA. BY J. W. DAWSON, LL.D., P.R.S., F.G.S. ,„* To Alfred R. C. Sblwyn, Esq., F.G.S., Director of the Geological Survey of Canada. v Sir, The Report which by your request I have the honour to present herewith, includes the results of researches in the Devonian and Upper Silurian Flora of Canada, prosecuted for several years, and now brought to a conclusion, so far as the material at present accessible will permit. For the purpose of these researches I have had in my hands the collec- tions of the Geological Survey of Canada, and those made by Prof. Hartt for the Natural History Society of New Brunswick, and I have myself visited and largely collected in all the more important localities. I have also had the opportunity of studying the fossil plants collected by Prof. Hall in New York, and by Prof. Newberry in Ohio, and the more important collections in Great Britain. I shall be able in the present Report to catalogue or describe more than one hundred and twenty species of Land Plants found in forma- tions older than the Carboniferous in Canada and the neighbouring parts of North America ; thus placing the knowledge of this old flora as it occurs in Canada, in advance of that of any other portion of the world. ^v ^ '^'■ I trust, therefore, that this Report, like Goeppert's and Unger's on the Devonian Flora of Europe, will, for some time at least, constitute a standard work of reference on this subject, not only in this country but abroad. It will also, no doubt, tend to stimulate further discoveries, and will afford to working geologists in this Dominion a satisfactory basis for j. the comparison of the Devonian and Carboniferous plants, a point very ^ important in the investigation of our Coal-fields. The descriptions in this Report are, with a few additions, and some changes rendered necessary by the more special reference to Canada, the same with those in my memoir on the Devonian Flora of North Eastern America, read before the Royal Society of London in 1870, and now in its archives. I have the honour to be, Your obedient Servant, J. W. DAWSON. M'GiLL College, Montreal, June 26, 1871. HV,.,' ,;, .... .. Srji; (■«-.;':■,,■■ . -7* ; CONTENTS. I. Hutorieal Notice qf the Pr^Carbon\ferou* Flora qf Canada, with iti Geological Relations. II, Revision in detail of the Devonian and Silurian Mora. 1. Devonian Plautg. 2. Upper Silurian Plants. m. ^omparitone and Conclusions. 1. Geographical Conditions, with reference to Pre-Oarboniferous Vege. tation. 2. Compaiisons of the Devonian and OarbonifBrons Floras. 3. Comparisons of the Devonian Flora of Chnada with that of Europe. 4. Relations of the Devonian to older Floras. 6. Practical Utility of the Subject. 6. Tabular View of the Distribution of Pre-Carboniforous Plants. I. HlSTORICAI, NOTICB OP THE PrE-CarBONIFEROUS FlORA OF CANADA, WITH ITS GeOLOQICAL RELATIONS. My attention was first directed to the special study of the Devonian Flora by the discovery on the part of Sir W. E. Logan, in 1843, of numerous fossil plants in the sandstones of Gaspd Bay, named by him the " Gasp^ Sandstones ; " but it was not till 1859 that I had oppor- tunities to examine Sir William's collections, and to visit Gaspd with the view of studying the plants in situ. In that year I communicated to the Geological Society of London my paper on the " Fossil Plants of the Devonian Rocks of Canada, " in which I described the remarkable root- beds existing in the Gaspd Sandstones, and instituted the genera Pro- totaxites and Pailophyton for the reception of two of the more novel forms discovered. Since that time, I have extended my observations od the Devoniau Flora to the rich plant-beds of St. John, New Brunswick, and Perry, Maine ; and have enjoyed the opportunity of studying the fossil plants discovered in the Devonian of New York by the Geological Survey of that State, and kindly communicated to me by Prof. Hall. The results, embodying notices or descriptions, of about eighty-two speciesy ■ ,<■,': ■ '( r ► ** CANADIAN FOSSILS. havo been published in two papers in the Proceedings of the Ooological Society of London,* and in so far as thoy relate to New Brunswick, in the second edition of my " Acadian Ocology," 1868. In the preparation of the latter work I had the advantage of examining a large collection from the prolific beds of Carlton, near St. John, New Brunswick, made a few years ago by Mr. (now Professor) Ilartt, under the auspices of the Natural History Society of New Brunswick, and which may be regarded as almost exhaustive of that locality. A detailed section prepared by Prof. Hartt, and illustrating the distribution of the plants in the several beds, is also included in the notice of the locality in Acadian Geology. Since the publication of the last- mentioned work, the explorations of the Geological Survey in the southern part of New Brunswick have traced the Devonian plant-beds to the westward of St. John, and have brought them into stratigraphical juxta-position with the Upper Silurian and Lower Carboniferous rocks «f that region, thus farther confirming their geologi- cal age. Several new species, and specimens illustrative of forms previously known, have also been discovered, more especially at Lopreau and its vicinity. The researches of the officers of the Survey have also rendered it probable that the beds at Perry in Maine, which have affordod so many interesting fossils, may belong to a Devonian horizon somewhat higher than that of the St. John plant-beds, and that this may possibly servo to account for their comparatively unaltered condition. | The largo amount of material and of new facts to which I have thus had access, together with important discoveries made by Prof. Hall and Dr. Newberry in the Devonian of the United States, appeared to render possible a general revision of the whole Devonian Flora of Eastern America ; but, before attempting this, I was desirous to have the oppor- tunity of revisiting and more fully exploring the clifis of Gasp^ Bay, with the view more particularly of studying the type of plant which had proved to be, of all others, most characteristic of the Devonian Flora, viz., the genus Fsilophyton, and which occurs more abundantly, and in better pre- servation, there than at any other known locality. This design I carried out in the summer of 1869, under favorable circumstances as to weather, and ■with the valuable aid of Mr. G. T. Kennedy, B.A., and Mr. G. M. Dawson, both good collectors. The more fully to do justice to the work • " On the Flora of the Devonian Period in North-Eastern America, "— 18G2. Further Observations on the Devonian Plants of Maine, Ga3p6, and New York "—1863. t The Perry beds rest uncomforraably on a series of supposed Upper Silurian beds, which, traced eastwardly, probably underlie the Devonian plant-beds of Lepreau. The Flora of the Perry beds is precisely equivalent to that of the Upper Devo- uian of Peuusylvaaia and New York, and quite distinct from that of the Lower Carboniferons. I ... V ■' 1 < >.', i V*^ " ^ I n' I PBB-OARBONIPEROUS PLANTS. 7 of exploration, wo took with us a largo boat and two boatmen, so that we could secure abundant ond large specimens, and could take time to work out the connections of the plants in the beds in which they Ho, points of the utmost importance in the study of fossil plants. The Gaspd sandstones have been fully described by Sir W. E. Logan, in his Report on the Geology of Canada, 1863. lie there assigns to them a thickness of 7036 feet, and shows that they rest conformably on the Upper Silurian limestones of the Lower Ilelderberg Group (Ludlow), and are in their turn overlaid unconformably by the conglomerates which form the base of the Carboniferous rocks of New Brunswick. I shall add here merely a few remarks on points in their physical character connected with the occurrence of plants in them. In my recent visit I obtained specimens of Prototaxitea Logani and other characteristic plants from the base of the Sandstones at Little Gasp(j. This fact, along with the occurrence, as stated in my paper of 1863, of rhizomes of Psilophyton preserving their scalariform structure, in the upper part of the Marine Upper Silurian limestones, * proves the Flora of the Devonian rocks to have had its beginning at least in the previous geological period, and to characterize the lower as well as the upper beds of the Devonian series. In this connection I may state that, from their marine fossils, as well as their stratigraphical arrangement. Sir W. E. Logan and Mr. Billings regard the lower portions of the Gasp^ Sand- stones as the equivalents of the Oriskany sandstone of New York. On the other hand the great thickness of this formation, the absence of Lower Devonian fossils from its upper part, and the resemblance of the upper beds to those of the newer members of the Devonian elsewhere, render it pro- bable that the Gasp^ Sandstones, though deficient in the calcareous mem- bers of the system seen farther to the westward, represent the whole of the Devonian period. The Gaspd sandstones, as their name imports, are predominantly aren aceous, and often coarsely so, the sandstones being frequently composed of large grains and studded with quartz pebbles. Gray and buif are prevar lent colours, but red beds also occur, more especially in the upper portion. There are also interstratified shaly beds, sometimes occurring in groups of considerable thickness, and associated with fine-grained and laminated argillaceous sandstone, the whole having in many places the lithological aspect of the coal-measures. At one place, near the middle of the series, there is a bed of coal from one inch to three inches in thickness, associated with highly bituminous shales abounding in remains of plants, and also * The marine fossils of these beds have been determined by Mr. Billings. They are Upper Silurian with an intermixture of Lower Devonian in the upp p^t * -J * ^"i^ • J llnjajiig S, P'laH^^^S % ,-^ &«MUkilMUUMHIkMliflL CANADIAN FOSSILS. containing fragments of crustaceans and fishes (Pieryjfoftw, Ctenacanthus f &c). The beds connected with this coal are grey sandstones and grey and dark shales, much resembling those of the ordinary coal formation. The ;, ^ ■ coal is shining and laminated, and both its roof and floor consist of lami- , •■ ■ nated bituminous shale with fragments of Psilophy ton. It has no true under-clay, and has been, I believe, a peaty mass of rhizomes of Pftilophyton. jjl^ ' It occurs near Tar Point, on the south side of Gasp^ Bay, a place so named from the occurrence of a thick dyke of trap holding petroleum in its cavities. The coal is of considerable horizontal extent, as in its line of strike a similar bed has been discovered on the Douglas River, about four miles distant. It has not been recognized on the north side of the Bay, > though we find there beds, probably on very nearly the same horizon, hold- ing Psilophyton in situ. ' , As an illustration of one of the groups of shaly beds, and of the occurrence of roots of Psilophyton, I may give the following sectional list of '::- beds seen near " Watering Brook," on the north shore of the Bay. The order is descending : Ft. In. ■ 1. Grey sandstones and reddish pebbly sandstone of great thickness , 2. Bright red shale 8 3. Grey sha!cs with stems of Fiilophyton, very abundant but badly pre- - served 5 ;• : , 4. Grey incoherent clay, slicken-aided, and with many Rhizomes and roots . . of Psilophyton 3 5. Hard grey clay or shale with fragments and roots of Psilophyton 4 ' • 6. Red shale 8 7. Grey and reddish crumbling sandstone Groups of beds similar to the above, but frequently much more rich in fossils, occur in many parts of the section, and evidently include fossil soils of the nature of under-clays, on which little else appears to have grown than a dense herbage of Psilophyton, along with plants of the genus «(l Arihrostigma. In addition to thes? shaly groups, there are numerous examples of beds of shale of small thickness included in coarse sandstones, and these beds often occur in detached fragments, as if the remnants of more continuous layers partially removed by currents of water. It is deserving of notice that nearly all these patches of shale are interlaced with roots or stems of Psilophyton, which sometimes project beyond their limits into the sandstone, as if the vegetable fibres had preserved the clay from removal. In short, these lines of patches of shoie seem to be remnants of soils on which Psilo- phyton has flourished abundantly, and which have been partially swept away by the currents which deposited the sand. Some of the smaller patches may even be fragments of tough swamp soils interwoven with v« -*••■£■. m / PRE-OARBONIFBROUB PLANTS. 9 lr-' roots, drifted by the agency of the waves or possibly by ice ; such masses are often moved in this way on the borders of modern swamps on the sea- coast. In the sandstones themselves there are great quantities of drifted plants, principally fragments of Psilophyton, which are sometimes matted together as if they had drifted in peaty sods, in other cases scattered loosely over the surfaces, and often in very small fragments. The sandstones also contain large drifted trunks and stumps of Prototaxites. In the coarser sandstones there are numerous bony spines of large fishes CMachceracanthus^, and in some of the finer beds spines and bony plates of smaller fishes, apparently of the genera Coccosteus, Ctenacanthus and Leptacanthus. In one of these beds my assistant, Mr. Kennedy, was so fortunate as to find a nearly perfect specimen of Cephalaspia, the first found in America, and a new species.* Some of the finer beds also hold shells of Lingula, and lamellibranchiate shells of the genus Modiomorpha of Hall. It is a curious point of coinci- dence of the Gaspe sandstones with the old red sandstone of Scotland, that there are in some of the dark shales containing these shells and also frag- ments of plants, clusters of rounded bodies of the nature of the Parka decipiens of Forfarshire, though of smaller size than the Scottish specimens. When best preserved they appear as flattened globes with a depression in the centre of each and laid close together in one plane. They are most frequently attached to loose valves of bivalve shells. They must have been soft bodies covered with a tough smooth membrane, and were proba- bly the ova of moUusks or crustaceans. Of the latter, fragments referable to Dithyroearis, Eurypteru», Pterygotus, Ceriatocaris and Beyrichia occur in these beds. Prof. Hall has kindly compared the molluscous remains with those of the Devonian of New York. He does not profess to give a conclusive judgment on them, but states that their aspect is that of the Hamilton group. The only remaining point connected with local Geology to which I shall allude in these introductory remarks, is the admirable facilities afforded by the Gasp^ coast both for ascertaining the true geological relations of the beds, and for studying the Devonian plants, as distinctly exposed on large surfaces of rock. On the coast of the River St. Lawrence, at Cape Rozier and its vicinity, the Lower Silurian rocks of the Quebec Group are well exposed, and are overlaid unconformably by the massive Upper Silurian limestones of Cape Gasp^, which rise into clifls 600 feet in height, and can be seen filled with their characteristic fossils on both sides of the Cape. • Described by Mr. H.Woodward in the Geological Magazine (1871) as Cephalaspit Uamoni. / r • ■* 10 CANADIAN FOSSILS. #■ Resting upon these, and dipping at high angles toward Gasp^ Bay, are the Devonian sandstones, which are exposed in rugged cliffs slightly oblique to their line of strike, along a coast-line of ten miles in length, to the head of the Bay. On the opposite side of the Bay they reappear ; and, thrown into slight undulations by three anticlinal curves, occupy a line of coast fifteen miles in length. The perfect manner in which the plant-bearing beds are exposed in these fine natural sections may serve to account for the completeness with which the forms and habits of growth of the more abundant species can be described in the following pages. It will be necessary, before closing these introductory remarks, to state the reasons which have induced me to suggest in the following pages the use of the term " Erian, " as equivalent to " Devonian, " for the great system of formations intervening between the Upper Silurian and the Lower Carboniferous in America. I have been induced to adopt this course by the following considerations : 1. The great area of undisturbed and unaltered rocks of this age, including a thickness in some places of 18,000 feet, and extending from east to west through the northern states of the Union and Western Canada for nearly 700 miles, while it spreads from north to south from the northern part of Michigan far into the middle states, is undoubt- edly the most important Devonian area now known to geologists. 2, This area has been taken by all American geologists as their typical Devonian region. It is rich in fossils, and these have been thoroughly studied and admirably illustrated by the New York and Canadian Surveys. 3. The rocks of this area surround the basin of Lake Erie and were named in the original reports of the New York Survey the " JJn'e Division." 4. Great difficulties have been experienced in the classification of the European Devonian, and the uncertainties thus arising have tended to throw doubt on the results obtained in America in circumstances in which such diffi- culties do not occur. These reasons are, I think, sufficient to warrant me in holding the great JErie Division of the New York geologists as the typical representative of the rocks deposited between the close of the Upper Silurian and the beginning of the Carboniferous period, and to use the term Erian as the designation of this great series of deposits as developed in America, in so far at least as their flora is concerned. In doing so, I do not wish to commit to the use of this term the officers of the Survey of Canada, or to introduce a new name merely for the sake of novelty ; but I hope to keep before the minds of geologists the caution that they should not measure the Erian formations of America, or the fossils which they contain, by the comparatively depauperated representatives of this portion of the geolo- gical scale in the Devonian of Western Europe. ^^ 4, ^ ■>'- ( >\ %^' ^ If': I , f # / -li PRE-CARBONIFEROtIS PLANTS. 11 II. Revision of the Pre-Carbontferous Flora, with Descriptions OF New Species. 1. Devonian or Erian Plants. Under this head I shall catalogue in order the several species of fossil plants which have been recognised in these beds in Canada, referring in the case of species previously described to the memoirs in which their characters have been published, and adding descriptions of new species, corrections of errors, new facts and structures recently obtained, and discussions of the nature and afl5nities of the several species, so as to bring the whole subject, as far as possible, up to the present state of knowledge ; and also introducing such allied species from New York, Ohio and Maine as may serve to illustrate the Canadian species. In order that distinct notions may be conveyed as to the geological horizons of the species, I may state that the typical Devonian or Erian series of Canada and New York may be divided in descending order into — ■1. The Chemung group, including the Chemung and Portage sandstones and shales. 2. The Hamilton group, including the Gencsse, Hamilton and Marcellus shales. 3. The Corniferous limestone and its associated beds. 4. The Oriskany sandstone. As the Corniferous limestone, which is the equivalent of the Lower Carboniferous limestone in the Carboniferous period, is marine, and affords scarcely any plants, we may, as is usually done for like purposes in the Carboniferous, group it with the Oriskany under the name Lower Erian. The Hamilton rocks will then be Middle Erian, and the Chemung group Upper Erian, In the present state of our knowledge, the series may be co-ordinated with the rocks of Gasp^, New Brunswick and Maine as in the following table : — Subdivisions. New York and Western Canada. Gaspe. Southern New Brunswick. Coast 7 of Maine. ] Upper Devonian or Erian. 01'cinu.^c; Group. Upper Sandstones. Long Cove, &c. Mispec Group. Shale, Sandstone and Conglome- rate. Perry Sfvndstones Middle Devonian or Erian. ,:,• ,, . , ■■:. ■ :'■ , -- y ■ if;-;.. Hamilton Group. Middle Sandstones. Bois Bnilc, Cape Uiseau, &c. Little R. Group (in- cluding Cordaite shales and Da- doxylon Sand- stone.) Lower Devonian or Brian. Oomiferous and Oriskany groups. Lower Sandstones. Gasp6 Basin, Little Gaspe, «c. Lower Conglomerates, r n ,.^:, >■' -|1,'., 12 CANADIAN FOSSILS. ** Branching trunks, with distinct zones of growth, and a pith of the Sternbergia type. Wood-cells very large, with three to five rows of contiguous, alternate, hexagonal areoles with oval pores. Medul- lary rays with one to three series of cells, and as many as fourteen rows of cells superimposed on each other." Since the publication of my former papers, several additional specimens of this tree from the St. John beds have been sliced and examined micro- scopically, without showing any farther peculiarities of structure. It is evidently an Araucarian Conifer, having regular hexagonal areolations in the cell walls, enclosing rounded discs in which are placed oval oblique pores resembling those of the Taxinese. Like some similar conifers in the Carboniferous, it has a distinct Sternbergia pith. (PI. I, Fig. 15.) It differs from the Carboniferous species of Dadoxylon in the great size of its woody fibres and the more numerous rows of pores or discs on their sides. The specimens found at St. John, in the so-called " Dadoxylon Sand- stone," are partially carbonized, and partially silicified, calcified or pyritized. The carbonaceous matter is anthracite, and in some places films of it have the lustre and appearance of graphite. When the calcified portions are acted on by a dilute acid, the carbonaceous matter can be recovered in a pure state and capable of showing the fibres and their pores under the * In the following pages the subdivisions of the Devonian series will be indicated by the letters U.D., M.D., and L.D. The names of Canadian species are printed in Small Capitals. Allied species from New York and other parts of the United States introduced for purposes of comparison, are printed in Italics. As I have not copied in this Report any of the figures published in my previous papers, or the remarks there made on the localities and relations of the species, I have given references to ;?,^;:' these papers in the case of each species. In these references the initials "J. G. S." indicate the Journal of the Geological Society of London. ( Conifer ce, ^c.) Genus Dadoxylon — Unqer. 1. Dadoxylon Ouanqondianum, Dawson. — ( PI. I, Figs. 1 to 4 & Fig. 15.)— Canadian Naturalist VI, 165; Figures 1 to 4. J.G.S.XVIII, 306. Acadian Geology, 2nd ed. 535, Fig. 185.— M.D., New Bruns- wick. f V* >.-,. M|f'^ u #' " PRB-CARBONIFBROUS PLANTS. 19 * » • microscope ; but in this condition the pores present a mere reticulation •without any appearance of proper discs. When portions containing pyrites are submitted to the action of dilute hydrochloric acid, the pyritized parts remain and can be separated. These, seen under the microscope as opaque objects, often show the most beautiful casts of the fibres, exhibiting the discs in great perfection on their surfaces. As is often the case with other fossil woods, imperfectly preserved specimens show a tendency to radia- ting crystalline structures which are often curiously complicated with the radiating cracks following the medullary rays and the concentric lines of growth. Fig. 1 shows a specimen of this kind as seen in a polished trans- verse section. More recently, the oflScers of the Geological Survey have collected at Lepreau, New Brunswick, additional specimens of this species, differing somewhat in their state of preservation from those at St. John. They are compressed and silicified, and shew the more minute structures of the woody fibres even more perfectly than the specimens previously in my possession. They exhibit the peculiar oblique arrangement of the pores which is also seen in some Carboniferous species, as well as in the wood of some Sigillarise, and in the modern world is observed in Cycads and in Taxine conifers. They also show, better than my former specimens, the medullary rays, composed of from one to three series of cells, and with as many as fourteen cells sometimes superimposed on each other. It will be observed that this species thus occupies a position intermediate between the ordinary species of Dadoxylon, and those with several series of cells in the medullary rays, which Brongniart has separated to form his genus I^alceoxylon. No specimens which can be certainly regarded as the foliage or fruit of this species have been found. The specimens all appear to be drifted trunks, and the largest hitherto found, in so far as I am aware, was twelve inches in diameter. This specimen was collected by Mr. Matthew, and was stated to have had a cast of a Sternbergia pith no less than two and a half inches in diameter. Judging from the analogy of recent plants, this great diameter of the pith would indicate that the branches must have been few and thick, unless indeed we suppose that this feature was limited to the main stem, and that small branches of different structure have sprung in whorls from its sides. . t. I ' i-,. ,(' ■■. tv. 1 .1^'. >. ■' ■J : , # ^'m r t I ■ :3-: 14 CANADIAN FOSSILS. , The three following sp'^ciea are allied forms from Now York and Ohio : 2. Dadoxylon ffalli, Dn,— (PI. I, Figs. 5, 6.)— J. G. S., XVIII, 806 ; PI. XIII, Fig. 11.— M.D., New York. " Wood-cells very large, with five rows of contiguous, alternate, hexagonal areoles. Medullary rays very frequent, and with as many as thirty rows of cells superimposed." On this species I have no further information to offer, and merely figure a few cells for the sake of comparison. The chief diflFerence between it and the last species is in its medullary rays, which are very frequent and composed of as many as thirty cells superimposed. 3. Badoxylon Newberryi, Spec. Nov., — (PI. I, Figs. 7 to 9.) — M.D., Ohio. Cells mort slender than in the last species, areoles in two or three rows, with large oblique pores. Medullary rays very numerous^ of about eighteen rows of narrow cells in two series. This is a specimen of wood communicated to me by Dr. Newberry, by whom it was collected in the Hamilton Group (Middle Devonian) in Ohio. It indicates a form quite distinct from the preceding, and more nearly akin to the Carboniferous conifers. Genus Ormoxylon — Dn. ^.— Ormoxylon Erianum, G. & S. N.— (Pi. I, Figs. 10 to 14.)— M.D., New York. (Portage Group.) Woody stems, with cells of the character of those of Dadoxylon, very thick- walled,with three rows of hexagonal areoles, having oval pores. And Medullary rays of one row of cells. Pith-cavity composed of a series of spherical chambers, separated by thick transverse cellular partitions. The specimen from which the above characters are derived was col- lected by Prof. Hall in Schoharie County, New- York. At first sight it has the appearance of a stem of Megaphyton, with a row of circular leaf scars, but on closer examination this appearance is found to be deceptive ; the round spots being in reality casts in fine sandstone of a series of cham- bers, constituting a pith-cavity, and enclosed in a flattened carbonized stem. Before being flattened, the stem with this singular medullary cylinder must have borne some resemblance to the shell of an Ormoceras, a cir- . v; ,'*>■ PRB-OARBONIPEROUS PLANTS. 15 cumstance which has suggested a name for the genus. The wood of the specimen being carbonized and compressed, unfortunately retains its struc- ture very imperfectly. With some difficulty, however, I was enabled to obtain shreds of the wood showing the tissues represented in the figures, though the general arrangement of these tissues could not be made out any farther than that the cells were arranged in radiating rows, and that there were probably rings of growth. The specimen preserved no cister- nal markings and was evidently decorticated. It must have been about two inches at the least in diameter, independently of the bark. The character of the pith suggests affinities with Calamodendron, and shows that the plant must have borne on its nodes verticils of leaves or branchlets, but the structure of the wood is distinct from that of Calamo- dendron, and similar to that of Conifers. It is too dense and thick-walled for that of Sigillaria. The plant therefore stands by itself, and apparently occupies a place between Calamodendron and Dadoxt/lon, but nearer to the latter. For comparison I have figured one of the pith-diaphragms of the modem Cecropiapeltata, (Fig. 16.), and a section of the pith oi Dadoxylon Ouan- gondianum, (Fig. 15.) ; also the pith of a Carboniferous Dadoxylon. (Fig. 17.) It is evident that the arrangement of the parts in the Erian Dado- xylon has some points of re'jcmblance to that in the present species, while that from the Carboniferous also resembles it, though less closely. Th" present species is thus, in so far as its pith is concerned, a true Stern- bergia, but with very distinct and very thick diaphragms, in the former respect approaching to the pith of Calamodendron, but without its verti- cal striation on the surface of the pith cylinder, a circumstance which indicates an arrangement of the woody wedges more akin to that of Badoxylon or Sigillaria than to that of Calamodendron. It is further to be observed that this species agrees with Calamoden- dron in having the diaphragms incomplete or perforated in the middle, so as to be capable of freely admitting sand into the interior. As shown in the figure, however, this was also the case with Dadoxylon Ouangondia- num, and possibly with some of the Sigillarice, into the pith-cavity of which in like manner sand has penetrated, so as to produce casts of the pith in the form of Stembergice, •,-t- i^ ■■ '' ', • -U. V I Ij V 16 canadian fossils. Genus Prototaxites — Dn. '' ' ' 6. — Prototaxites Looani,— Dn. (PI. II, Figa. 18 to 27.)— J. G. S. XV, 484; Fig. 4. Report of Geological Survey of Canada, 401 ; Fig. 430.— L. & M.D., Canada. " Woody and branching trunks, with concentric rings of growth and med- ullary rays, (jells of pleurenc/u/ma not in regular lines, cylin- drical, thick-walled, with a double series of spiral fibres. Discs or bordered pores feio, circular and indistinct. The specimens are usually silicified, with the bark in a coaly state." This species was described, and the genus Prototaxites established, on the evidence of specim* collected by Sir W. E. Logan, and of a trunk eighteen inches in diameter observed by me in Gaspd on my first visit. In my more recent visit, I was so fortunate as to find two additional trunks imbedded in the sandstones. One was about two feet in diameter, and with seven feet of its length exposed. The other was not less than three feet in diameter and of unknown length, only a few feet of the larger end having been uncovered. Both were prostrate and silicified. In addition to these we found at Little Gasp(5, near the junction of the Gasp^ sand- stone with the Upper Silurian limestone, two stumps of trees of this spe- cies, with spreading roots. As they did not appear to be imbedded in an underclay, but in the ordinary sandston^, I suppose them to have been drifted stumps. They are, however, of importance as shewing the exis- tence of these trees at the beginning of the Devonian period, and also as proving that the roots were similar in form and structure to the stem, and of woody character. Loose fragments of the silicified and carbonized wood of Prototaxites, recognizable by its structure under the microscope, were also found in several places, and specimens were obtained by Prof. Bell, of the Geological Survey, in places not visited by me. These facts show that these trees are by no means rare ; and they occur under pre- cisely the same conditions with the drifted trunks of Coniferous trees found in the sandstones of the coal formation. This mode of occurrence, as compared with that of Siigmarice, Lepidodendra, &c., in the same beds, shows that the wood of Prototaxites must have been comparable to that of ordinary Coniferous trees in durability, lightness, and resistance to water soakage. Two of the larger trunks we found are represented in situ, in the wood-cuts. ' Though all the trunks hitherto found are silicified, and dark in colour except when stained with ferruginous matters, they differ very much in their state of preservation. In some cases the wood appears as a homoge- PRE-CARBONIPEROUS PLANTS. n neous black cherty mass, only faintly marked with a longitudinal striatioa parallel to the fibres. It then presents its structures in a perfection unsur- Trunk of Prototaxiies Logani, eighteen inches in diameter, and Branch, as seen in the cliff near- L'Arut Brehaut, Olatpf. as jeds, that ie to 3d in ^i -..;;i,■..^4■^x; Trunk qf Prototaxiies Logani, nearly two feet in diameter, as seen in the cliff near Little Cape' Oiseau, Gasp4. passed by any fossil wood known to me. In other cases the infiltrated silicious matter has a granular character, and the texture is destroyed or broken up in such a manner as to resemble a coarse cellular structure - r 18 CANADIAN FOSSILS. In other cases a concretionary action has been established, Tvhereby circular radiating spots liaTO been produced, interfering with the struc- ture ; and in some instances this goes so -far as to give the whole mass a sort of oolitic appearance. (Fig. 23.) By preparing and comparing with each other a large number of slices, I have been able to recognize, under all these different states of preserva- tion, the same structures originally described by me in the paper above cited. All present cylindrical woody fibres, marked with irregular spiral lines, and indications, perhaps illusory, of small round pores placed at unequal intervals. The woody fibres are of groat length, but not closely in contact with each other, giving to the wood a lax appearance, like that in very young Coniferous stems. The fibres are not placed in regular radiating series, but are divided into wedges by radiating bands repre- senting the medullary rays, and there are distinct lines of growth in which the fibres are of smaller diameter than elsewhere. I figure some of these appearances as presented in the specimens more recently obtained.* With the exception of the lines of growth, I have failed to observe any change of structure in passing from the circumference to the centre. No pith has been observed, and the bark, when present, is thin and coaly. The roots have precisely the same structure with the stems, except that the fibres appear to be a little larger, and with the walls less thickened. (Fig. 27). In all the specimens there are evident indications of medullary rays, in radiating bands and lenticular spaces traversing the wood ; but the structure of the rays has perished, as one frequently observes in old and •weathered trunks of modern trees. This would either indicate that the medullary rays were lax and perishable, or that all the specimens have been much lecayed before fossilization. (Figs. 20, 21, 22, 25). In one inut .^nce a large branch was observed to be given off', and on other trunks knots representing the attachment of small lateral branches, like those of ordinary pines, were found. The most remarkable external marking consists in certain transverse swellings which give to the trunk an irregularly articulated appearance (Fig. 19). These swellings are connected with a gnarled appearance of the external layers of the wood, but the internal layers appear smooth, as if the structure supervened in an aged condition of the trunk. Two explanations of it occur to me : — (1.) The swellings may mark Unes from which whorls of small branches • In some of the more perfect specimens the fibres appear as if connected with each other bj fine reticulations or by the dark bars of the thickened wails passing from one to another. This curious appearance it is difficult to explain. It may either depend on the state of pre- •ervation of the specimens or on some peculiarity of structure at present unknown to me. f PRE-CARBONIFBRODB PLANTS. 19 wore given off in suflSciont number to cause an irregularity of growth in the layers of wood covering the remains of these branches. This appear- ance may be observed in stems of modern trees giving off many branches at one level. (2.) The old trunks may have produced rings of aerial roots ; perhaps after their bases were partially buried under sediment or accumu- lations of vegetable soil. In some cases holes or depressions occur along the course of the swellings, wliich may mark the points of attachment of the branches or roots referred to (Fig. 19 a). That Prototaxites was essentially distinct from any other known tree of the Palaeozoic Period is obvious ; but in the absence of all knowledge of its foliage and fructification, any attempt to divine its affinities must be merely conjectural. Its want of proper vascular tissue, along with its dense woody structure and regular exogenous growth, ally it to conifers ; and among these its spirally marked fibres approach more nearly to those of the Taxineoi than to any other tribe. Among Palaeozoic plants, its structure more nearly resembles that of the wood to which I have given the name of Nematoxylon, than any other type. Indeed this might be placed with Prototaxites, but for the absence of any evidence of exogenous growth in the former. Prototaxites may also be compared with Aporoxylon of linger, but it differs in several essential particulars, though both may be regarded as prototypal conifers. Among more recent fossil species, the tertiary genus Spiropity» of Goeppert presents some distant points of resem- blance.* It is perhaps worthy of notice that the plant recently described by Mr. Hincks t {Eophyton explanatum), from the Lower Arenig rocks of St. David's, has a tissue of uniform cylindrical cells resembling those of Pro- totaxites or Nematoxylon. It may have been a root or small branch of a tree of this description. In specimens from the Ludlow of England kindly shown to me by Mr. Etheridge of the Geological Survey of Great Britain , I found fragments of wood with the structure oi Prototaxites. Prototaxites is the oldest exogenous plant at present known to us, and the type is as yet confined to the Lower and Middle Devonian. It was contemporary with Dadoxylon in the latter of these periods, but is struc- turally as widely separated from that genus as from modern Taxine and • Mr. Carru there has kindly pointed out to rce some structural points in which this remark- able plant resembles Algae of the family Codi», the long tubes traversing which he com- pares with the cells of Frototaxitet. For the reasons stated in the text, however, I cannot accept this as an indication of true afBnity, and must believe the plant to have been a terres- trial tree exogenous in its mode of growth. The high botanical skill of Mr. Carruthers, however, renders it important to state his view?, in the present imperfect state of our know- ledge of this truly wonderful plant. t Geological Magazine, Dec, 1869. See also infra, §111. 4. » ( * to CANADIAN FOSSILS. Araucarian trees. If the tjpo of Dadoxylon was introduced in the Middle Devonian, that oi Prototaxite$ ra&y then have been verging on extinction ; and should forests of the Silurian period become known to us, we may hop©^ to find in them additional species of Prototaxitet. In the meantime it is certain that no species of fossil tree hitherto described presents histolo- gical features more primitive in aspect, and more remote from existing forms of vegetation than Prototaxitea. In this respect it presents a marked contrast to Dadoxylon, and also to the contemporary acrogenous plants, whoso structures, in so far as known, arc almost precisely similar to those of their modem representatives. Genus Nematoxylon. — Dn. 6. Nematoxylon crassum, Dn.— (PI. XI, Fig. 137.)— J. G. S.,XIX, 366 ; PI. XIX, Fig. 24— M.D., Gasp^. " Fragments of wood with a smooth thin bark, and a tissue wholly composed of elongated cylindrical cells with irregular pores or markings. No pith, medullary rays, or rings of growth. " 7. Nematoxylon tisnue, Dn. (PI. XI, Fig. 135-6.)— Ibid. 467 ; PI. XVIII, Fig. 23.— M.D., Gasp^. " Slender stems with thick coaly bark, and woody fibres of much smaller ,. diameter than in the last species, and marked with minute dots." I place these plants here, simply because of the resemblance of their tissues to those ofPrototaxites, with which it is possible that they may have had some connection, being, perhaps, stems or slender roots of similar species of smaller size. No additional specimens have been obtained, sines the publication of my paper above cited, which would indicate that speci- mens of these plants are rare at Gasp^ ; and they have not been found elsewhere. The original specimens wore collected by Mr. Bell of the Geological Survey, vvt - ■ ■:^>.- ,,j^- . ■■. . ;- «. : Genus Aporoxylon. — Unger. G. S., XVIII and XIX.— U.D., Malne^ 8. Apokoxylon, sp. New York. The plant originally described by Unger as Aporoxylon primigenium *' and referred by him to Coniferae, may have been more nearly allied to Prototaxitea than other described forms. It diflfers principally in the • PalaoBtologie deB Thuringer Waldes, 1836. ,^'^,;■,i^i.,. ..., " Branchlets slender ; leaves five or six in a whorl, subulate, curving upwards, half a line to a line long; intervals equal to the' length of the leaves or less ; stems ribbed, with scars of ver- "■ ticillate branchlets at the nodes." "^Only a few small fragments of this species have been added to my former collections. It seems to be very rare. ' , .dui^ 28 CANADIAN FOSSILS. 28. ASTEROPHYLLITES LATIFOLIA, Dn.— (PI. V, Figs. 50 to 53.) — J. G. S., XVIII, 311 ; PI. XIII, Fig. 17.— M. D., St. John, New Bruns- wick. *' Stem somewhat slender, with enlarged nodes. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, about thirteen in a whorl, one-nerved, longer than the internodes. Length of leaves varying from one-fourth of an inch, near the ends of branches, to an inch or more. Strobiles cylindrical, with oval spore cases and narrow pointed bracts." Numerous additional specimens of this beautiful species are in Prof. Hartt's collections. They show that the whorls of leaves were borne on branchlets attached close to each other in a pinnate manner, on a jointed, striate and apparently woody stem. With the leaves are strobiles or spikes of fructification, having whorls of narrow pointed scales apparently cover- ing oval spore-cases. On the same surfaces are also dense leafy bodies, (Fig. 62) which I regard as the undeveloped extremities of stems or branches. All these parts are perfectly parallel to those of Aaterophyl- litea foUosua, L. & H., of the Carboniferous, of which this species may be regarded as the Devonian representative, differing, however, in the number of leaves in a whorl, and slightly in the form of the leaves, and the habit of growth. , 29. ASTEROPHYLLITES ACICULARIS. Dn. — (PI. V, Figs. 54 to 57. — J. G. S., XVIII, 310 ; PI. XIII, Fig. 16.— M. D., St. John, New Brunswick. -lir-)- i^J;>i *' Stems slender, striated, thickened a', the nodes, leafy. Leaves one-nerved, linear, slightly arcuate, ten to fifteen in a whorl, longer than the internodes. Length of leaves one-half to three-fourths of an inch. Strobiles small, oval, with acicular oracts." In some of Mr. Hartt's specimens, this and the last species are asso- ciated in such a manner on the same slabs as to suggest a suspicion that they may have been portions of one species. I have failed, however, to trace any connection or intermediate gradations, and, on the other hand, there are organs of fructification associated with the present species which are quite distinct from those of the last. They are small oblong strobiles with narrow leaves or scales, and sometimes in groups of two and three together. C^igs. 65, 66.) The specimens recently obtained show that this species was similar in its habit of growth to the last (Fig. 54), and it grew apparently in the same places. PRE-CARBONIFEROUS PLANTS. 29 This species in its general form resembles A. equisetiformia, Brong., and in its fructification A. rigidus, Sternberg, as figured by Geinitz. I observe that Schimper has twice quoted this species, referring to the same figures and description in both cases. In page 827 he places it under (Jalamocladus, as an uncertain species of Calaraite leaf At page 349 he places it under Annularia as a synonym of A. radiata, Brong. I must dissent from both of these contradictory decisions. The species 'is, however, closely allied to A, radiata, Brong., differing principally in the form and number of the leaves. It had a stiff or rigid stem, with a- stout vascular axis, and though the leaves sometimes seem united at the base, they fell off separately, and, in some beds, great numbers occur detached. 80. ASTEROPHYLITES SCUTIGERA, Dn. — (P1.*V, Figs. 58, 59).— J. G. S.,. XVIII, 311 ; PI. XIII.— M.D., St. John, New Brunswick. u Stems simple, elongated, attaining a diameter of half an inch, obscurely striated ; bearing on the nodes whorls of round or oval scales, or bracts, which at the ends of the stems are crowded into a sort of spike, while on other parts of the stems the nodes are sometimes an inch apart." „ ^,. .,. To the description of this singular species, I have nothing farther to add, except that I have larger specimens with a greater number of joints. It may have been either a sheathed species like Unger's A. coronata, deprived of its leaves, or a sub-aquatic stem, bearing scales instead of branches at the nodes. The singular species of Pinnularia (P, nodosa^ infra) is found in the same beds, and may have been connected with this plant. The spikes of fruit or buds, one of which is represented in Fig. 69, also occur with this species. 31. ASTEROPHYLITES LENTA, S. N.— (PI. V, Fig. 60.)— M.D., St. John, New Brunswick. ,_.^ , , .^ , . Stemt slender, feeble, delicately striate. Leaves long, linear, one-nerved in whorls of about ten. This species is founded on a few specimens in Prof. Hartt's collections. It is quite distinct in form and habit from any of the others, and may hav& been an aquatic species. I am sorry to see that Schimper in his new and valuable work, Palaeon- tologie Vegetale, has thrown the Asterophyllites and their allies into a state of confusion even worse than that prevailing before. Be claims as V 80 . ' : . CANADIAN FOSSILS. ' i leaves of Calamitea, certain species of Aster ophyllites, under the name of Calamoeladus, and transfers others to Annularia. This arrangement, which I regard as wholly artificial, will render necessary a note as to the aGSnitios of the above species, one of which Schimper transfers to Annu- ' ■ • Zana under the name " A i)ai^«o««." * Accidental connections of specimens and the resemblance of some stems . of Aiterophyllites to branches of Calamites, have led Ettinghausen, Geinitz, and others, to confound the two genera. For example Geinitz . figures* the base of a Calamite with its pinnularia-like roots, under the name Asterophyllites folioaus, Lindley, this last being a true typical Asterophyllites, as figured and described by Lindley. He also figures branches and fruits of an Asterophyllites, which may be identical with Lindloy's species. f Schimper unites the whole under the name Cala- mocladus folmu%, while my* Devonian species above named, and which is most closely allied to A. foliosus of Lindley, is placed in Annularia. jV On this I have to observe that I have in my collection, and have figured ■■ in my Acadian Geology, leaves of three species of Oalamites, in two of the species actually attached to the erect stems, and that these ' leaves would certainly not, by any competent botanist, be referred to Asterophyllites. They are narrowly linear, much elongate, thick, fleshy, and destitute of any apparent rib, being in truth perfectly similar to the branchlets of Equisetum, except in wanting sheaths, a deficiency which the stem of tha Calami tes also exhibits, and they are as broad at the base as elsewhere.^ On the other hand the leaves of Asterophyllites are com- V paratively broad and flat, and pointed at both ends, and have a distinct midrib ; and they are borne on pinnate branches, which is never, in so far as I am aware, the case with those of Galamites. With regard to Annu- laria^ I hold to the original diagnosis that the leaves in each verticil are of unequal length and united at the base. In addition to this, they have slender stems, and were probably floating leaves, while the Asterophyllites have rigid stems. Annularia sphenophylloides of Unger, and A. laxa of this paper, are true Annularise. Asterophyllites latifoUa of this paper, and A. foliosa of Lindley, are true typical Asterophyllites. The leaves of Catamites transitionis, as figured in this paper, and those of • Coal Flora of Saxony, PI. XV. t lb. PI. XVI. , ; X Aa previously stated, the miscroscopic examination of Calamite leaves shows the same structure of rows of transverse striae observed in modern Equiseta, and to which nothing similar exists in Asterophyllites. I have verified this both in Carboniferous aad Devonian species. The leaves of Calamites were in reality homologous with the branchleta of Equiseta, and were angled and brittle, so that they readily break in pieces, which accounts for their infrequent preservation. When flattened they seem to have an obscure midrib produced either by the angles of the surface or by the vascular axis of the leaf; but when well preserved they always show the transverse striation. (See PI. IV, Fig. 42 b.) PRE-OARBONIPEROUS PLANTS. 81 i 1 <7. Suckovii and 0. ci»tii, as figured ia my Acadian Geology, repre- sent the foliage of Calamites. Any one who will take the trouble to compare the figures referred to, will readily comprehend the three generic names as used in this paper, and, as I believe, in strict accordance with the natural affinities of the species. With regard to the suggestion of Brongniart that some Asterophylliteg may be leaves and branches of Calamodendron, holding, as he does, and as the writer does, that Calamodendron is essentially distinct from Cala- mites, this does not afiect the question. There is, however, no evidence as yet known to me sufficient to connect the two genera. Genus Annularia — Brong. \ . - , •, ' 82. Annularia laxa, S.N.,— (PL VI, Figs. 64 to 69.)— M.D., Gasp^. Stems slender, tortuous, with whorls of eight to twelve leaves at long in tervaU. Leaves long, linear, one-nerved, narrowing toward the point and united at the base by a broad membrane. When Sir William Logan explored the Gasp^ Cliffs in 1843, he observed on the surfaces of slabs of sandstone, singular stellar markings of unknown nature. On my first visit to Gaspd I endeavoured to obtain better speci mens, but without success. Last summer, by excavating in some of the beds containing these impressions, and carefully washing the muddy surfaces of the slabs, we succeeded in obtaining specimens which threw some light on the nature of the plant, though its affinities may still be regarded as doubtful. It consists of slender stems, straggling over the surfaces of the beds and usually very obscure. At intervals these are surrounded by a carbonaceous film, from which radiate the leaves. These, when well preserved, have a distinct raised carbonaceous midrib, which must have been of a woody nature, though apparently flexible at the extremity. The margins of the leaves have not left very distinct impressions, and this with the quantity of carbon remaining, and the relief of the ribs, suggests the idea that they may have been thick and fleshy, or perhaps provided with air cells for floating. In some specimens the ends of the leaves are curled in a circinate manner, which may indicate their mode of vernation, but on the other hand may be accidental. Brongniart supposes that the typical Annularioe were floating plants, and this would certainly seem to have been the nature of the present species.* • My friend Mr. Oarruthers, on examining these specimens, doubts as to the propriety of l^lacing them in the genus Annularia, on the ground that they rather appear to be floating ^ fa 82 CANADIAN FOSSILS. I* I think it probable that the singular stellate objects represented in Fig. 70 have had some connection with this plant. They are perhaps its roota or possibly whorls of leaves imbedded without compression in mixed sand and mud. They are thick and massive, and penetrate the thickness of the beds in which they are contained. The objects represented in Figs. 71, 72, are also of a radiating char acter and may have Lad a similar origin. They resemble the Cauda-galli fucoid (Spirophyton), but are apparently radiating roots or leaves (PI. VI. Figs. 71, 72). On the same slabs with Annularia laxa are i\umerou8 oval discoid bodies with a papilla or protuberance in the centre. They are smooth, thin and carbonaceous, and show no markings, except a few minute raised points near the margin. They may be flattened carpolites or peltate scales of some strobile ; but they appear too thin to be explained in these ways. I can scarcely suppose that they have any connection with Annularia hi,a ;, but mention them here, as they occur associated with that plant (Fig 73.) • ' , ' Genus Spuenophylldm — Brong. 88. Sphenophyllum antiquum, Dn. — (PI. VI, Figs. 61, 62.) — Canad. Nat., VI, PI. 170, Fig. 7. J. G. S., XVIII, 312.— M.D., St. John, New Brunswick. V " Leaflets cuneate, one-eighth of an inch wide at the apex, and lesa than one-fourth of an inch long. Nerves three, bifurcating equally near the base, the divisions terminating at the apices of six obtuse, acuminate teeth. About eight leaves in a whorl." This sole Devonian representative of its genus appears to have been very rare, as I have not been able to obtain any specimens additional to those referred to in the papers cited above. The specimen figured in Fig. 61 shows the arrangement of the leaves but not the venation, and is smaller than the detached leaf represented in Fig. 62. whorls of leaves attached to each other by horizontal branches, or peltate leaves deeply cut at the edges. I had myself originally labelled them with a new provisional name ; butsub- sequontly feeling that they might come under the technical definition of Annularia, the other species of which were probably also floating leaves, and being reluctant to multiply generic names, I decided to retain them in Annularia. PRB-OARBONIFEROUS PLANTS. 88 ■J w\ s i.. Roots of AsTEuopuYLLiTBiB, &o. 34. PlNNULARIA DI8PALANS, Dn.— (PI. VII, Figs. 74 to 76.)— J. G. S., XVIII, 812 ; PI. XIII, Fig. 22.— M.D. , St. John, Now Brunswick. " Smooth slender stems, producing nearly at right angles long branchlets, some of which produce secondary branchlets in a pinnate manner. Stem and branches having a slender vascular axis." ' Y'v ' * • Specimens in Prof. Hartt's collection shew delicate longitudinal stria- tion, also areoles from which branchlets or rootlets have been broken off. They also show well the manner of the ramification of the central axis into the branches. I have no doubt that this Pinnularia was a cylindrical branch- ing root, probaldy of Asterophyllites, S'phenophi/llum or CalamiteSy with a slender vascular axis aurrounded with a thick cellular coating. The two following species arc distinct from the present, but probably also roots. 85. Pinnularia elongata. S. N.— (PL VII, Fig. 77.)— M.D., St. John, New Brunswick. Stem slender, striate, branches few, long and slender, given off at an angle of about 75". 86. Pinnularia nodosa. S. N.— (PI. VII, Fig. 78.)— M.D., St. John, New Brunswick. Stem straight, with alternate branches at right angles. The branches expand at intervals into obscure lobes. This species is found in the same beds with Oalamites and Asterophylr lites scutigera. It was probably a root furnished with tuberous expan- sions, which are, however, very obscure. (^Lycopodiaceoe.) Genus Lepidodendron — Sternb. "^ . '.^ 37. Lrpidodendron Gaspiandm, Dawson.— (PI. VIII, Figs. 82 to 84.) —J. G. S.,XV, 483 ; Fig. 3. lb. XVIII, 313 ; PI. XIV & XVH. — M.D., Gaspd. M. & U.D., New York. M.D., St. John. Afeoles contigxious, elliptic, with central leaf-scar ; leaves thick at base, adcular, slightly ascending and curving downwards, short? Strobiles small, lateral? Branches slender, straight and very uniform in thickness. Areoles prominent in decorticated sterna. My explorations of last summer prove this widely distributed Devonian plant to be rare in the Gasp^ sandstones. Only a few drifted specimens 84 CANADIAN FOSSILS. '^ , were found, though as somo of these had their leaves attached, they wore probubly not derived from verj distant localities. Attached to one of the specimens was a small strobile, too obscure to shew its characters distinctly, but sufficient to indicate the general form of the fructification, which v is not before known. (Fig. 84). 88. Lepidodendron Chemungente^ Hall. — (PI. VIII, Fig. 84.) —Report New York, 276. J. G.S., XVIII, 81}?.— U.D., Elmira, New York» 89. Lepidodendron corrugatum, Dn.— J. 0. S., XVIII, 813 ; PI. VII, Fig. 10. — U.D. ? M.D. ? Akron, Ohio. Also Lower Carboniferous. I believe the beds from which this species was obtained at Akron, Ohio, are now regarded as Lower Carboniferous, a conclusion which I suggested in the paper above cited, in consequence of this species being so charac- teristic of the Lower Carboniferous in Nova Scotia. 40. Lbpidodbndron PRiMisvuM, Rogers, (? If L. Veltheimianum, Goeppt.) — Report Pennsylvania, II, 828. — M.D., Pennsylvania. U.D. ?, Kettle Pt. Ontario. This is evidently a Lepidodendron quite distinct from L. Gaspianum ; but all the specimens I have met with are very obscure in their markings. Genus Ltcopoditbs — Brono. 41. Lycopoditea Richardtoni, Dn. — (PI. VII, Fig. 81.) — Canad. Nat. VI, 179, Fig. 10. J. G. S., XVIII, 314. lb. XIX, 461, PI. XVIII, Fig. 112.— U.D., Pe.ry, Maine. Also recently found by Prof. Hall, in Upper Devonian beds at Montrose, Pennsylvania. " Stem slender, tortuous, dichotomous ; barren branches with short erect or recurved leaves, apparently in two ranks ; fertile branches lateral, one-sided, in the form of sessile strobiles. These strobiles are the Lepidostrobus Richardsoni of my formei papers." • This is a plant of very slender and probably herbaceous habit, the branches looking almost like Graptolites. It bears strobiles of com- paratively large size, in rows on the side of the stem and with strong scales standing at right angles to the branches. The figure referred to above in J. G. S. XIX, well represents these points. PRS-OARBOKIFBROUS PLANTS. 85 42. Ltcopoditbs Matthbwi, Dn.— (PI. VIII, Figs. 86 to 87.)— CanacU Nat. VI. — M.D., St John, New Brunswick. *< Leaflets one-reined, narrowly oral, acuminate, one-tenth to one-fourth of an inch in length, somewhat loosely placed on a slender forking stem. " Additional specimens show this to have been a mr woody plant than I had at first supposed, and possibly branchlets of s .e slender Lepido- dendron of the type of L. aouminata of Goeppert. (Fig. 87.) 48. Lyeopodita Vmuxemii, Dn.— J. 0. S., XVIII, 814, PI. XVII. Also Hall's and Vanuxem's Reports on Geology of New York. — U.D., Ithica, New York. ** Stem slender with marks of fallen leaves. Leaves pinnate, contiguous, linear, about half an inch in length." I have seen additional specimens in the collections of Prof. Hall, which show carbonaceous and apparently woody stems, having traces of fibrous structure and transverse markings externally. The leaves have evidently been in one plane and show obscure longitudinal striation but no trace of a midrib. I have no doubt that this is a land plant, but whether most nearly allied to Lycopodiaceae or Ferns, I still entertain doubts. * It suggests to botanical observers comparisons with leaves of Cycads and even with Algse ; but the woody character of its stem and the nerveless condition of its leaves are against these suppositions. It is, as explained in previous papers, a near ally of Goeppert's species, L. pennceformis. "44. Lycopodites comotua. Dn.— J. G. S., XIX, 462. — U. D., Perry Maine. " Stem short, not observed to branch, densely covered with long filiform leaves." 45. LepidostrohuB globotm, Dn. — J. G. S., XVIII, 314. — U.D., Perry, Maine. ** Round, or rounded oval, covered with obscure pointed scales. " I have no further information as to the last two species. • In some bed? jf the same aeries there are cylindrical branches covered with minute tuber cleg and bearing pinnate branchleta of similar character ; I agree with Prof. Hall that these are of aoimal origin. w canadian fossils. Genus Leptophleum — Dn. 46. Leptophleum rhombicum, Dn, — (PI. VIII, Figs. 88, 89.)— J. G. S., XVIII, 316, PI. XII, Fig. 8 ; and XVII, Fig. 53. Ibid. XIX, 462, PI. XVIII, Fig. 19.— M.D., Perrj?, Maine. M.D., Gaspd. " Stem covered with contiguous rhombic areolea, each with a single small scar a little above its centre, and above this a very slight furrow. Decorticated stems with spiral punctiform scars in slight depres- sions. Bark thin. Pith-cylinder very large, with transverse markings of the character of Steriibergia." I figure a very well marked specimen of this curious species, shewing the external markings and the internal Sternbergia structure. Genus Lepidophloios — Sternb. 47. Lepidophloios antiquus, S. N.— (PI. Vil, Figs. 90, 91.)— M.D., Gasp^. Areolet vert/ small, lets than half a line in length, apparently rounded below and pointed above, loith acuminate ends. Central scar indistinct, lateral ones apparently obsolete. Projections below the areoles marked with sharp vertical ridges, t I have had occasion to remark in previous papers the fact that the Lepi- dodendra and Sigillarice of the Devonian are for the most part slender and delicate in their habit of growth, as compared with those of the Car- boniferous and specially of the Upper Coal formation. The present species exibits the same peculiarity in the genus Lepidophloios, usually so large and coarse in its areolation. Species like that above described are referred by some palaeo-botanists to the genus Sigillaria, but the internal structure of the best known species shows that they were lycopodiaceous plants allied to Lepidodendron and bearing Lepidostrobi. They have no connection with Sigillaria, other than a superficial resemblance in the form of the : areoles. Of the present species I have found only one well-characterized specimen, that figured (Fig. 90). It is about one inch in diameter, and its areoles are well preserved only on a small portion of the surface. It shows no trace of marks of cones, and was probably a young stem or branch. Leaves, apparently of a very small species of Lepidophloios are found rarely in the shales of St. John- They may possibly belong to the present species. >^ . pre-carboniperous plants. Genus Psilophyton.— Dn. 37 48. PSTLOPHYTON PRINCEPS, Dn— (PI. IX. PI. X, Figs. Ill to 119. PI. XI, Figs. 127 to 129, & 133 & 134.)— J. G. S., XV, 479; Fig. 1. Ibid. XVIII, 315. Ibid. XIX,, 46.— L. D., M.D., Gasp<5; also Upper Silurian. Sterna branching dicfwtomomly, and covered with interrupted ridget. Leaves rudimentary, or short, rigid and pointed; in barren stems, numerous and spirally arranged ; in fertile stems and branchlets sparselg scattered or absent; in decorticated specimens repre- sented by minute punctate scars. Young branches circinate; rhizomata cylindrical, covered with hairs or ramenta, and having circular areoles irregularly disposed, giving origin to slender cylindrical rootlets. Internal structure — an axis of sealariform vessels, surrounded by a cylinder of parenchymatous cells, and by an outer cylinder of elongated woody cells. Fructification consisting of naked oval spore-cases, borne usually in pairs on slender curved pedicels, either lateral or terminal. This species was fully described by me in the papers above cited, from Bpecimens obtained from the rich exposures at Gasp^ Bay, and which enabled me to illustrate its parts more fully perhaps than those of any other species of so great antiquity. In the specimens I had obtained, I was able to recognize the forms of the rhizomata, stems, branches and rudi- mentary leaves, and also the internal structure of the stems and rhizo- mata, and to illustrate the remarkable resemblance of the forms and struc- tures to those of the modern Pailotum. With the fructification I was less successful. The only specimen which I could regard as showing the fruit, appeared to me to present an assemblage of sessile scales. A large number of more perfect specimens obtained last summer enable mo now to state that the supposed scales are really narrowly ovate sporangia ; and that when mature they were borne, usually in pairs, on curved and appa- rently rigid petioles, in the manner represented in Figs. 102 to 108. Under the microscope these sporangia show indications of cellular structure, and appear to have been membranous in character. In some specimens dehiscence appears to have taken place by a slit in one side, and clay having entered into the interior, both walls of the spore-case can be seen. (Fig. 108.) In other instances, being flattened, they might be mistaken for scales. No spores could be observed in any of the specimens, though in some the surface was marked by slight rounded prominences, possibly the impressions of the spores within. This peculiar and very simple style r. . 38 CANADIAN FOSSILS. of spore-case is also characteristic of P. robusttus, and gives to Psilo- phyton a very distinct generic character. These naked spore-cases may be compared with those of such lycopodiaceous plants as Psilotum, in which the scales are rudimentary. In the manner in which they are borne they resemble those of the leafy genus Tmedipteris. On the other hand they might be compared with the sporocarps, or involucres as they have been called, of Rhizocarpeoe, which, however, they do not at all resemble in their manner of growth.* They might also be compared with the sporangia of the Hymenophylla and Ophioglosaeoe among the ferns. In short, the species of Psilophyton were synthetic or generalised plants, having rhizomata resembling those of some ferns, stems having the struc- ture of Li/copodium, and rudimentary leaves also resembling those of Lyoopodiacecey branchlets with circinate venation like that of ferns, and Sporangia of a type quite peculiar to themselves. Some of my lately acquired specimens also show that in the mature and fertile stems of P. princeps the ridges became very strongly marked, and that the scattered leaflets became hard, spinose and prominent, confirming my previously expressed opinion that the plant was somewhat rigid and woody. This character is, however, perceptible only when the plants are preserved in such a manner as to show their rotundity. When flattened, they may appear as mere fibres of carbonaceous matter, and might, ia fragments, readily be mistaken for fucoids. In some instances, however, the stems and rhizomes, both of this and the next species, when perfectly flattened, show the slender scalariform axis as a carbonaceous band or line resembling the midrib of a frond. I have in previous papers referred to these various states of preservation, and the deceptive peculiarities which they present. In the present paper I have attempted to illustrate some of them in the figures. P. PRINCEPS, Var. ornatum. -(PI. IX, Fig. 97 to 101.) On my late visit to Gaspd, a bed of argillaceous shaly sandstone filled with specimens of P8i7o/)% t 49. PsiLOPHyTON ROBUSTius, Dn.— (PL XI, Figs. 130 to 132. PI. XII. PI. X, Fig. 121.)— L. D., M. D., Upper Silurian, Gaspd. Stems stout, smooth or slightly furrowed longitudinally, and usually dotted with small irregular spots marking the position of ramenta or rudimentary leaves. Main stems branching irregularly and finally dichotomous. Rhizomata similar to those of the last species, but apparently smoother and less massive. Internal structure as in last species, but with a thicker vascular axis, the vessels having a tendency to arrangement in radiating series. Fructification in clusters of naked spore-cases, acuminate and somewhat falcate, borne on short dichotomous pedicels. This species was merely indicated in former papers on the evidence of a few fragments. The discovery of a bed richly stored with the stems in situ, and bearing fructification, enables me now to complete its descrip- tion. The habit of growth at once distinguishes this species, as well as its smooth and dotted surface, the abseuce of distinct leaves and its crowded clusters of spore-cases. Its internal structure also, though of the same general type, is notably different. It appears to have grown under 40 CANADIAN FOSSILS. precisely the same circumstances with the preceding species, and in a drifted state their fragments are often mingled together. Fragments of the stems of this species can scarcely be distinguished from leaf stalks of ferns ; and I now think it possible that some of the fragments from the Devonian of New York referred to the genus Rachiopteris, may have belonged to it. M. tenuistriata and R. pinnata are liable to this suspicion. The rhizomata and rootlets of this and the last species principally con- tribute to the contents of the remarkable Devonian root-beds or under- clays, of which a great number were described by Sir W. E. Logan in his Sections of the Gasp^ Sandstones. The rhizomata lie horizontally, or are entwij^ed in a serpentine manner in the beds ; and it is remarkable that great numbers often lie in one direction, as if they had been subaquatic, and their growth had been determined by a prevailing current ; but this may have arisen merely from the extension of rhizomata outward from the margins of original beds or patches of the plants. In other cases they are placed confusedly in eyery direction. The rootlets often penetrate downwards at right angles to the beds, and are specially manifest in some sandy layers in which they sometimes resemble the Scolithus of the Potsdam Sandstone. (PI. XIV, Fig. 166). The stems in some beds remain attached to the roots, and are bent over and flattened in one direction, like grass over which a stream of water has flowed. They have manifestly in many cases been overflowed and covered with sediment when in a growing state. 50. PSILOPHYTON ELEQANS, Dn.— (PI. X, Figs. 122, 123.)— J. G. S., XVIII, 315 ; PI. XIV & XV.— M. D., St. John, New Brunswick, M. D., Gaspd. Stems slender, produced in tufts from thin rhizomes, bifurcating and curving at their summits. Surface smooth, with very delicate wrinkles. Fructification in grouj^s of small, broadly oval scales, borne on the main stem below the points of bifurcation. The original specimens on which this species was established were from St. John, and were distinguished by their tufted habit of growth, their Smoothness, their small size and the fructification being apparently lateral and sessile ; though this character could not be certainly ascertained. I place here specimens lately found at Gaspd having similar characters, though from the imperfect state of preservation I cannot with much con- fidence aflSrm their identity. My recent discoveries as to the fructifi- ,1 „ u • ■■'*'.., • p PRB-CARBONIFEROUS PLANTS. 41 cation of Psilophyton render it probable that the little clusters of leaf-like bodies from St. John which I referred to the species Annularia acuminata are really spore-cases of this species. (See PI. XIX.) 61. Psilophyton? qlabrum. Dn,— (PI. VII., Fig. 79.)— J. G. S., XVm., 315.— M. D., St John, New Brunswick. *♦ Smooth, flattened, bifurcating stems, two lines in width, with a slender woody axis." I regarded this species, at the time -vthen it was named, as of very doubt- ful character, in so far as its aflSnities with the proper species of Psilophyton are concerned. Additional specimens have not dispelled my doubts, though I still retain the name to indicate a fossil not hifrequent at St. John, but of uncertain nature. The specimens are smooth, flattened, bifurcating stems, about two lines in width, with indications of a slender* woody and vascular axis. The surface is usually quite smooth, but occa- sionally marked with fine longitudinal striae. They are always flattened, but from their structures must have been cylindrical and cellular with a (slender axis. They resemble the larger stems of Pinnularia, but have no branchlets or indications of these, nor have I found in them any indications of leaves or other organs, though I have stems in my collection apparently well preserved and a foot in length. If not stems of a species of Psilophy- ton, they must have been roots of some plant of this genus. They much resemble certain stems with a slender axis, from the Upper Silurian, referred to farther on. Fig. 80 represents stems of P. robuatius and a petiole of a fern, for comparison. Genus Arthrostioma — Dn. 52. Arthrostioma gracile, G. and S. N.— (PI. XIII.)— L.D., Gasp^. Stems elongated, cylindrical, bifurcating, and giving q/f lateral branches ; irregularly furrowed or ribbed longitudinally, with circular leaf- scars arranged in whorls, and bearing linear rigid leaves with circular bases. Structure apparentlg cellular, with a slender vascular axis ; fructification probably in cylindrical strobiles. The genua Cyclostigma was proposed by Haughton, in 1859,* to include plants with whorls of rounded scars found in the '* old red sandstone" of Kiltorcan, in Ireland. His specimens had no leaves ; but as figured, some of them show indications of a vascular axis. The plant above described • Trans. R. Irish Academy. 4f CANADIAN FOSSILS. might be included in the generic characters of Haughton's specimens, but \b of different habit and evidently generically distinct. Its leaves and fruit indicate Lycopodiaceous affinities, but it is less close to Lepidodendron than Haughton's specimens, and perhaps connects them with Psilophyton. My specimens were found in the sandstones of both sides of Gasp6 Basin, and in one bed appeared to be in situ, with irregular curving roots in the under- lying bed or under-clay. The stems were found both flattened and cylin- drical, the latter penetrating nearly at right angles to the beds. None of them were more than an inch in thickness, and the greater part only half an inch. The leaves were apparently rigid, and nearly at right angles to the stem, and were seen to radiate through the surrounding sand- stone to the distance of more than an inch from the stem. This, Avith the ribbed stem and nodes with round scars, gives to the erect stem an aspect somewhat resembling that of Calamitea. These latter plants are, ho«?ever, more regularly ribbed, and never show any indication of a slender internal axis. When imperfectly preserved, the leaves resemble spines, in this according with those of Psilophyton. When broken off they leave rounded spots like the areoles of Stigmaria, but without a distinct articular tion. The whorls of leaves in the flattened specimens are often oblique, but this appears to be an effect of pressure, as they are more regular in the cylindrical stems. The stems were not observed certainly to bifurcate, though there are indications of this ; but on one a branch placed nearly at right angles was observed. Certain strobile-like bodies found in the same beds are probably the fruit, and it is interesting to observe that these very much resemble the spikes of fructification from Perry, described by me as Carpolithes sptca^Ms (J. G. S., XVIII., 461), though at that place no stems of the present genus have been found. (Fig. 154.) It is impossible to observe a well preserved stem of this species with its leaves attached, without a strong conviction that it represents a synthetic type, combining very diverse forms. Its articulations, ribs and verticils of ; leaves recall the aspect of Oalamites, Asterophi/UUes and Anarthrocanna. Its circular scars have the aspect of aS^i^ waria. The structure of its stem must have been very near to that of Psilophyton. Its leaves are inter- mediate between those of that genus and Lepidodendron. It thus has a most antique and prototypal character, and it is remarkable that like Prototaxitea, it seems in Gaspd to be limited in its upward range to the lower part of the Middle Devonian, as if it were then a form verging on extinction. The only plant of Carboniferous date that I can compare with it is Goeppert's Sagenaria oyclostigma from the " Newer Grauwacke " of Landeshutt ; but this plant is very imperfectly known, and may have been of quite different character. H K i PRB-0ARB0NIFBR0U8 PLANTS. 48 The flattened stems of Arthroatigma gracile often show distinct indica- tions of a slender central axis, probably of scalariform vessels, though the structure is obscure. . Genus Cyclostigma — Haughton. 66. Cyclostigma densifolium, S. N.,— (PI. VIII., Figs. 92 to %.)— M.D., Gasp^. Stems slender, covered with circular or transversely lengthened leaf-scars, spirally arranged, and hearing short curved leaves with broad bases. The specimens on which this species is founded are fragments of stens an inch or less in diameter, found in beds associated with the small bed of ^coal, near Tar Point, Gasp6 Bay. At first I was in doubt whether to regard these stems as belonging to Lepidodendron or Stigmaria, but the form of the scars, in connection with that of the leaves, places them in the genus Cyclostigma, as somewhat aberrant members tending towards Lepidodendron* Genus Cordaites.— Unger. Pychnophyllum. — Brong. 64. Cordaites Robbii, Dn.— (PI. XIV, Figs. 156 to 162.)— Can. Nat. VI. J. G. S., XVIII, 316, PI. XIV.— M. D., St. John, New Brunswick. M. D., Cazenovia, N. Y. " Leaves elongated, lanceolate, sometimes three inches wide and a foot in length. Veins equal and parallel. Base broad, clasping the stem, point acuminate." These large striated leaves are so abundant in some of the shales at St. John, that the name " Cordaite shales" has been given to the beds by Mr. Matthew. I have nothing further to add to the full discussion of the affi- nities of this plant in the papers above cited. Like the Cordaites of the Coal-formation it sometimes has on its surface shells of Spirorbis. f (Fig. 161.) •Since writing the above, I have seen in London, through the kindness of Messrs. Btheridge and Carruthers, specimens from Kiltorcan, collected by Mr. Bailey, and very near to mine from Gasp6. They seem, however, to be branches of the remarkable tree referred to above under Stigmaria. At the same time, they are evidently identical with Haughton's Cycloitigma; which genus, I think, must stand, though founded on imperfect specimens; sines the plants in question are of a very distinct type, not to be included with the Lepidoden- droid or Sigillaroid trees, though they exhibit characters in some respects intermediate. |i t These shells are attached to some of the leaves of Cordaites Robbii in Prof Hartfa eollectiona, and I have noted the same fact as occurring at Gaap^, though the specimens f ' .:: - ■■» I* 4ik . CANADIAN FOSSILS. 55. C0RDAITE8 ANQDSTiFOLiA, Dn. — (PI. XIV, Fig. 163.) — Canad. Nat. VI. J. G. S., XVIII, 318.— M. D- Gaspd. M. D., St. John. M. D., New York." " Leaves linear, much elonga ed, one-tenth to one-fourth of an inch broad, with delicate, equal, p; rallel nervurea." • I have grouped under this name a, number of narrow Zostera-like leaves, •with delicate longitudinal striation, which abound in the Devonian beds ; but what maj have been their real nature I do not know. The short stem with leaves represented in Fig. 163 b may have belonged to this species* It is from Prof. Hall's collection. 6. C0RDAITE8 sp.— (PI. XIV, Fig. 164.)— M. D., St. John, New Brunswick. A few specimens have been found at St. John, of Idng narrow leaves, evidently distinct from the preceding, and with parallel equal nerves. Unless merely a variety of 0. Robhii, these may be entitled to a specific name. Another form (Fig. 165) shows an appearance of striae between the nerves, as in 0. borassifolia. It may represent still another species ; but the specimens are few and imperfect. 57. Cordaites sp.— J. G. S., XVIII, 318 ; PI. XVI, Fig. 69.— M. D., New York. This may have been a stem of one of the preceding species. 68. Cordaites flexuosus, Dn.— J. G. S., XIX, 462 : PI. XVIII, Fig. 9. — U. D. Perry, Maine. " Leaves' lanceolate, acuminate, broad at the base ; nerves numerous^ parallel, somewhat sinuous and uneven." ae«m to have been mislaid. The shells from St. John are similar to the S. carbonariiu of the Ccal-formation; but the tube widens more rapidly and is smooth. They may be named S. Erianut. It seems hopeless to convince PalsBO-botanists that these Spirorhes are really shells. Ai long ago as 18451 showed evidence of thij, and described these shells as Spirorlns, and sub- quently I have investigated and described the microscopic structure of tlio shell. Yet I see that Schimper reproduces, though with doubt, the old error that these organisms are fungi (Gyroinycea ammonis of Goeppert). I have represented the St. John specimens in Fig. 161. They appear reversed or sinistral; but wiien placed on a thin leaf their ajjpear- ance in this respect depends on the side of the leaf exposed. Fig. 161 b shows the actuaj appearance as seen on the upper surface of the leaf. See also Acadian Geology, p. 205, and Proceedings of Geological Society, Dec. 1865. -v/S; ■..' PRE-CARBONIFBROUS PLANTS. u The leaves to which the name Cordaitea has been given by Unger, and that of Pychnophyllum by Brongniart, (and some of which have been placed by botanists iu the genera Flahellaria and Noeggeratlda) are exceedingly abundant in the shales both of the Carboniferous and Devonian. They were parallel-veined and attached to the stem by a broad clasping base, which seems to have been readily disarticulated, as they are usually found disconnected from the stem. The aspect of the leaf suggests affinities with Endogens, but the structure of the stem, as described by Corda, with its simple cylinder of scalariform vessels desti- tute of medullary rays, obviously approaches to that of Lomatojfoios, Leptdojloios, and Lepidodendron. Structurally, therefore, these plants are members of the Lepidodendroid group, generally regarded as Lyco- podiaceous, though markedly distinguished by their broad parallel-veined leaves. Unger, for this reason, places them in Lycopodiaceae ; though Brongniart suggests aflSnities to Sigillariacea;, which do not, however, seem so close, except, perhaps, in the resemblance of the leaves of some species to the parallel- veined leaves of Siyillaria elegana. I have followed Unger in placing these plants with the Lycopodiaceae. (Filices.') Genus Cyclopteris. — Brong. 69. Cyolopteris (Archacoptcris) Jacksoni, Dn. — (PI. XV, Figs. 167 to 169.)— Cauad. Nat. VI, 173 ; Fig, 9. J. G. S., XVIII, 319. It. XIX, 462 ; PI. XIX, Fig. 20.— U. D., Perry , Maiuo. U.D., N. York M. D., St. John. "Frond bipiimate; rachis stout and longitudinally furrowed; pinno alternate ; pinnules obliquely obovate, imbricate, narrowed at tl.e base, and apparently dccurront on the petiole ; nerves nearly parallel, dichotomous ; terminal leaflet large, broadly obovate or lobed." . . ' A specimen recently received by the Geological Survey from Gaspd, shows pinnules which I refer to this species, on a slab which also con- tains a portion of a large Lepidoganoid fish, allied to Holoptyoldua. This is the first occurrence of a fern in the Gaspd beds. It is, probably, from the upper part of the series. 60. C. (Archceopieria) Ealliana, Goeppert.~(Pl. XV, Fig. 170.)— Fl. Sil. 498. Hall, Report on New York, p. 275, Fig. 127. J. G-. S., XVIII, 318 i PI. XVII, Figs. 64 and 66.— U. D., New York, <»' 46 CANADIAN FOSSILS. 61. C. (Archaiopteria) Eogersi, Dn.— (PI. XV, Fig. 171.)— J. G. S., XIX, 468 ; PI. XVII, Figs. 17, 18. PI. XIX, Fig. 27.— U. D. Perry, Maine. ** Habit of growth resembling that of Oyclopterii Jacksoni, but the pin- nules are more elongated and almost cnneate in form, also lesi densely placed, and with veins more nearly parallel. Stipe stout, woody, furrowed longitudinally, and marked with strong transverse bars or punctures." A specimen, obscure in details, but which must belong to this or the previous species, occurs in Prof. Hall's collection, from Montrose, Pa., and presents the curious peculiarity of showing no less than nine petioles pro- ceeding from a common origin, as if the plant had either been a low- growing simply pinnate fern, with its fronds in dense clusters, or had grown on a common stipe in a densely palmate manner. Perhaps the former is the more probable supposition. 62. 0. (Aneimites; valida, Dawson.— (PI. XVI, Fig. 190.)— J.G.S. XVII, 819, PI. XVI, Fig. 52.— M. D., St. John. " Tripiunate ; primary divisions of the rachis stout and wrinkled. Pinnaa regularly alternate. Lower pinnules nearly as broad as long, deeply and obtusely lobed, narrow and decurrent at the base ; regularly diminishing in size and breadth toward the point, and the last pinnules narrowly obo- vate and confluent with the terminal pinnule. Nerves dehcate, several times dichotomous." 63. C. (Aneimites) obtdsa, Lesquereux. — PI. XVI, Fig. 188.) — Rogers's Report on Pennsylvania, p. 854 ; PI. 1, Fig. 11. J. G. S., ;;# XVIII, 319, PI. XV, Fig. 33.— M. D., St. John, N. Brunswick. 64. C. (Aneimites) Bockshii, Goeppert. (Lesqx.)— (PI. XVI, Fig. 187)— Report Pennsylvania, p. 854, PI. IH.— M. D., St. John, New Brunswick. M. D., Pennsylvania. This may be a variety of 0. obtusa, but Lesquereux thinks it distinct, and fronds perfectly similar to those which he baa figured occur at St. John. 65. Cycloptbris BaowNn, Dn.— (PI. XV, Fig. 172.)— J. G. S., ■ XVII, 32 ; PI. XII, Fig. 9. lb. XIX, 463 ; PI. XVII, Fig. 6. — U. D., Perry, Maine. Pennsylvania? *' Pinnules large, cuneate, with distant, once-forked nerves, and waved margins." V , PRB-OARBONIPBROUS PLANTS. 47 66. C. [NEPnnoPTERis] varia, Dn.— PI. XVII, Figs. 201, 202.)— J. G. S., XVIII, 819 ; PI. XV, 84.— M. D., St. John, Now Brunswick. " Pinnate [or bipinnate]. Pinnae with a thick petiole. Pinnules decreas- ing in size to the terminal one, which is ovate and lobed. Pinnules oblique, and decurrent on one side. Nerves frequently dichoto- mous." 67. C. (Nbphroptbris) problbmatioa, S. N. — (PL XV, Figs. 178, 174.) " Pinnse obliquely flabellate, with broad base and coarse nerves, much curved and forking twice. — M. D., St. John." A number of detached pinnules belonging to this species have been found. At first sight they resemble small specimens of C. Brownii, but the general form and venation are different. The ferns referred to the genus Cyclopteris, are probably by no means a natural assemblage. They resolve themselves somewhat roughly into two groups ; — those which, like C. Jacksoni and its European representa- tive C. Hibemica, have ovate pinnules decurrent on the rhachis, and those which, like C. obtusa and C. Brownii, have flabellate leaves ; but no weU- marked line of separation can be established between these two groups, or between either and the Carboniferous Cyclopterids. Some of the species have been included in the genus Noeggerathia, but this, as originally proposed by Sternberg, and subsequently employed by Palaeo-botanists on the continent of Europe, is obviously intended for the reception of very different plants. The genus Adiantites of Goeppert would include many of the species ; but the characters of this genus are not sufficient to distinguish it from Ci/dopteria, and there is no evidence that any of the species were allied to the modern genus Adiantum. Goeppert himself has consequently abandoned the genus as applied to those .plants, and includes the whole under the provisional name of Cyclopterin. I may add that this genus would be in no respect more objectionable than other similar genera of Palaeozoic ferns, if a few species based on the round basal pinnules of Neuropterids were removed from it. In Schimper's recent work on fossil plants, another attempt is made to classify the Cyclopterids on the basis of Ettingshausen's method. He restricts the genus Cyclopteris to a few flabellate species belonging to the Carboniferous and Permian. The greater part of the Devonian species he places in a new genus Paloeopteris, in which he includes the very distinct types represented by C. Jacksoni and Q. obtusa. This arrange- CANADIAN rOSSILS. *■* ment, I fear, cannot bo received aa either natural or convenient. The name Palceopteria has been pre-occupied by Goinitj for certain trunks of treo ferns, two of which, P. Ilartii and P. Acadica occur in the Carboniferous of Britiah America.* The genus as proposed includes two very distinct type?, both highly characteristic of tho Devonian, tho one with closely act pinnato leaves, dccurrcnt on the rhaohis, represented by 0. Ifibcrnica and C. Jachoni, the other with clustered pinnules potiohito or attached by a narrow base and with ilabcllato venation, represented by C. obtiisu and Booksldi. For this last typo, roprccontod in the Lower Carboniferous by niy Oyolopteris Aca'Ucd, I proposed long ago tho generic name Anei- mite.sj ; and thougli I observe that Schiiopcr haj proposed for other ferns the aubgcncric names An, itiiioiles and Andtuidimnl still desire to retain this name on the ground botli of priority and of probably correct botanical affinity. For tho other type, I must, for the reasons above stated, reject equally the namoy Noeggerathia, Adiantllits and Palceopteria^ and as a term aocms ahnolutely neccojary to dcdignato thcao plants, I wuidd niodify Schiuiper'a JiaiQO which ia well-adapted to express tho fact of tho antiquity of tlioso plants, by changing it into Archteopteris. I must hero also correct some errors as to American spociea into which Bcliiniper has fallen. My Cycloptcris validi he refers to two distinct genera (quotuig the same figure and description in both places). At p. 402 of his work it is an Aneimioidea, and at p. 480, it is a Triphgllopteris. The first is correct as to name, as the plant would go into my genus A7U'i- mite8, but it is placed with other ferns not allied to it, and separated from those more nearly akin to it. Sphenopteris laxa of Hall ho also quotes in two places, in the one case identifying it correctly with C. HalUana, Goeppert ; in tho other incorrectly with 0, Hibcrnica. Nocyjerathia ( Cycloptcris) obtusa of Lesquoreux he also identifies quite incorrectly with C. Hibcrnica ; and he gives Q, Jacksoni as a synonyia of 0. HalUana, dis- regarding the diagnoses given in my papers, J from inspection of the original specimens, and which fully separate the three aUiod American Bpocies, '0. Halliana, Q. Jacksoni, and 0. Jiugerai. Having cleared away these errors, I may now give tho provisional arrangement which I would propose for this /;roup of ferns, as follows : Sub-genus 1st. Archacopteria, Dawson. Typo A. Hibernica. In Amer- ica, A. HalUana, A. Jackaoni, A. Rogerai. Sub-genus 2d. Aneimitea, Dawson, typo A. Aoadioa. In America A. obtuaa, A. Bockshii, A. valida. The latter connects this typo with the broad-leaved Sphcnopterida. ^ i. ^, • J. G. S., XXII, 159. t J. G. S., XVII, 6. | J. G. S., XVUI & XIX. PHE-OAHDONIFBROUS PLANTS. 49 8ub-genu8 8d . Nephropteris, Schirapor, type iV. orbieulari$, Brong. In American Devonian, N. varia and N. problematioa. These are possibly ba3al pinnules of Neuroptorid ferns. Sub-gonus 4th. Oyclopteri% proper, Schimper. Type, C. flabellata, Brong. In American Devonian, 0. Brownii. . Schimper suggests that my Sphenopteriit Hitchcookiana (Fig. 175) may be the fructification of one of the above ferns of the genus Arohoeopteria. I regard this as quite possible, but have no direct evidence of it. The first, second and fourth of the above sub-genera may be regarded as eminently characteristic of the Brian or Devonian period, and especially of the Upper Devonian, both in Europe and America ; and by their pro a- lenco they serve to distinguish those beds from the Carboniferous. In the Lower Carboniferous, however, such ferns as Cyclopteria {Aneimites), Acadica, still continue to represent in some degree these peculiar forms. Genus Nedropteris. — Brong. 68. NEnROPTEHis POLYMORPHA, Dn.— (PI. XVTII.,Fig. 212. )— J. G. S., XVIII, 320 ; PI. XV, Fig. 20.— M.D., St. John, Now Brunswick. " Pinnate or bipinnate. Rachis or secondary rachis irregularly striate. Pinnules varying from round to oblong, unetiuully cordate at base, varying from obtuse to acute. Terminal leaflet ovate, acute, angulated or lobed. Midrib delicate, evanescent. Nervures slightly arcuate, at acute angles with the midrib." This fern is vory abundant in detached fragments in the shales of Carlton near St. John, and was described by me from these fragments. A few perfect specimens occur in the collection of Prof. Hartt, and confirm my restoration from the fragments previously studied. In the recent collec- tions of Prof. Hartt there are some pinnte with pinnules more elongated than the typical forms, but I regard them as merely a variety. 69. Neuhopteris serrulata, Dn.— (PI. XVIII, Fig. 213.)— J. G. S., XVIII, 320 ; Fig. XV, 35.— M.D., St. John, New Brunswick. *' Bipinnate. Rachis thin and slender. Pinnae alternate, sparsely placed, and of few pinnules. Pinnules obovate, narrowed at base, sessile, delicately but sharply serrate, especially at the apex. Terminal leaflet rounded and lobed, scarcely serrulate. Midrib visible nearly to the apex. Pinnules about two lines in length." .;>„>'. This species was founded upon a few fragments from Carlton, and Mr. Hartt subsequently discovered more perfect specimens, which seemed to 60 CANADIAN FOSSILS. i ! him to indicate that the species is really a Pecopterig'. In this conclusion I acquiesced, and omitted this species from the list in Acadian Geology. Subsequently, however, I found, on comparing the specimens in Mr. Hartt's collection with those I had previously obtained, that there are two species, for one of which I retain the above name. 70. Neuropteris retorquata. S.N. — (PI. XVII, Fig. 197.)— M.D., Lepreau, New Brunswick. Col. Geol. Survey. Pinnules broad oblong, obtuse, curved obliquely, cordate or auriculate ^ at base. Midrib faint, and traceable little more than half way from the base, nerves crowded, very oblique, curved,forking abou twice. Basal pinnules orbicular, or reniform,with diverging veins. Numbers of scattered pinnules of this species occur on the surfaces of the Devonian shales at Lepreau. It is a very distinct species, allied, how- ever, to N. flexuosa and N. gigante,a of the Carboniferous. The pinnules were either somewhat thick or strongly reflexed at the margin. In these characters, as well as the form of the pinnules, it differs markedly from N. polymorpha, with which it is associated in the beds at Lepreau. The specimens described were collected by Mr. Weston of the Geological Survey. 71. Nbdropteris crassa, Dn. — (PI. XVII, Fig. 200.) — ^Acad. Geology, p. 551. — M.D., St. John, New Brunswick. A single pinnule is all that I have to represent this species. It was collected by Mr. Lunn of St. John, N. B. . 72. Neuropteris Selwyni, S. N.— (PI. XVII, Fig. 198.)~M.D., St. John, New Brunswick. Pinnate. Pinnules oUong, narrow at the point, curved upward. Tha lower side oj the base cut off obliquely, so as to form a notch between the pinnule and the petiole. Mid-rib distinct. Nerve$ much, curved, forking once or twice. A single specimen represents this species in Prof, Hartt's collections from St. John. I dedicate the species to the Director of the Geological Survey. 73. Neuropteris, sp.— (PI. XVII, Fig. 199.) A few fragments in my collections from St. John represent another species resembling N. Sorettii, Brongt., but they are insufficient for description. PRB-CARBONIPEROUS PLANTS. 61 74. N. (Megalopteris) Dawsoni, Hartt.— (PI. XVII, Figs. 191 to 194.) — Bailey's Report on New Brunswick. Acadian Geology, 2nd edition, p. 650 Fig. 193. — M.D., St. John, New Brunswick. *' Frond rugose, rhachis thick, striated, broadly winged, pinnae alternate, very oblique, acute at apex, often an inch wide and six inches long, margin undulate ; midrib disappearing before reaching apex, veins numerous, very oblique, curved, forking thrice very obliquely." This is one of the finest of the Devonian ferns, its pinnules being sometimes six inches in length, and at first sight reminding an observer of the Glos- sopterids of later rocks, though very different in their venation. The fragments in Prof. Hartt's collection appear to indicate that the fronds consisted of large oblong pinnules closely aggregated together, or attached at a very acute angle to a rachis itself broadly winged. The veins spring from a broad flat midrib at a very acute angle, and curve outward to the margin, which they meet almost at right angles. It may admit of doubt whether this fern is really a Neuropteris ; but its scattered pinnules would at once by their form and venation be referred to that genus, though the habit of growth seems to have been different ; and for this reason I have suggested the sub-generic name above. In the species of Neuropteris the Devonian Flora approaches very nearly to that of the Carboniferous, several of the species being closely allied to common Coal formation ferns. They are, however, distinct speci- fically, and on the whole of a more delicate and less massive type. The principal exception to this is the remarkable species N. Dawsoni. This, however, manifestly presents in its venation a tendency toward Cyclopteris, though the form of the leaf is so different, and it is quite likely that when more fully known it will become the type of a new genus. <- .; / . Genus Callipteris. — Bronq. 75. Calliptbris pilosa, S.N.— (PI. XVI, Fig. 189.) JBipinnaie or tripinnate. Pinnae oblong with hm ni terminal leaflet, and crowded obovate obtuse decurrent pinnules, with a thick short midrib and a few forking curved veins. Frond dense and covered with very numerous microscopic hairs generalli/ mitki'ig thf venation. Fertile pinnae with nearly round pinnules, smooth and much reflexed in the margins. This curious fern, rather common in the Middle Devonian at St John, was described by me in Acadian Geology under the name Sphenopterit m^ 62 CANADIAN FOSSILS. pilosa. I now refer it to Brongniart's genus CalUpteris. Though the typical species of this genus are Permian, I believe it has represen- tatives in the Carboniferous. Genus Sphbnoptbeis. — BRoiTGr. 76. Sphenopteris Hoeninqhausi, Brong. — (PI. XVIy Fig, 186.) — M.D., St. John, New Brunswick. The ferns from St. John which I referred to this species are very rare, and no examples showing the venation have been found. It resembles Brongniart's species in form and dimensions. 77. Sphenopteris marginata, Dn.— rPl. XVI, Fig. 184.) — J. G. S., XVIII, 321 ; PI. XV, Fig. 38.— M. D., St. John, New Brunswick. " This resembles the last species in general form, but is larger, with the pinnules round or round-ovate, divided into three or five rounded lobes, and united by a broad base to the broadly winged petiole." This species is more abundant than the preceding, and the recent collections include specimens showing its form and venation very distinctly. 78. Sphenopteris Harttii, Dn.— (PI. XVI, Figs. 176, 177.)— J. G.S., XVIII, 321 ; PI. XVII, Fig. 32.— M.D. St. John, New Brunswick. " Bipinn&,te or tripinnate. Divisions of the rachis margined. Pinnules oblique, and confluent with the margins of the petiole ; bluntly *: and unequally lobed. Nerves few, oblique, twice-forked." 79. Sphenopteris Hitchcockiana, Dn. — (PI. XV, Fig. 175.) — J. G. S., XVIII, 321 ; PI. XVI, Fig. 31.— U.D., Perry, Maine. - " Stipes stout, straight, rugose, giving off slender secondary petioles, which ramify dichotomously and terminate in minute obovate leaflets." The only perfect specimen of this species was found by Mr. Hitchcock at Perry. The suggestion of Schimper already referred to, that this species may be founded on fertile pinnules of Cydopteris of the subgenus Archoeopteris, is deserving of attention. The scattered pinnules from St. John referred to it in a former paper are, I confess, very doubtful, and in large additional suites of specimens I have not been able to ascer- tain any connection with a stem. They may possibly be scattered spor- cases, as suggested by Schimper. ^ ^ PRE-OARBONIFERODS PLANTS. 53 80. Sphenoptbris rbcurva, Dn.— J. G. S., XIX, PI. XIII, Figs. 7, 8, — U.D., Perry, Maine. " Leaflets small, cuneate, terminating the divisions of a dichotomous winged petiole." 81. Sphenoptbris splendens, S.N.— (PI. XVI, fig. 186.) Tnpinnate ; plnnoe oblong, broader at base, loith flexuom petiole, bearing six to ten rounded, lobed, confluent pinnules, each with few veins branching abruptly. I am sorry to add another to the many species of Sphenopteris ; but the above will not accord with any known to me. Its nearest ally is perhaps 8. fragilis, Brong., but it is much more densely and closely constructed than that species. Its petioles and nerves seem to have been woody, and the frond thick, and in consequence it shines forth in all the metallic brilliancy of a dense graphitic film, from which circumstance I have taken its name. Genus Hymbnophtllites. — Goept. 82. Hymbnophyllites cortilobus, Dn,— (PI. XVI, Figs. 178, 179.) —J. G. S., XVIII, PI. XV, Fig. 39.— M.D., St. John, New Brunswick. " Bipinnate. Rachis slender, dichotomous, with divisions margined. Leaflets deeply cut into subequal obtuse lobes, each one-nerved, and about one-twentieth of an inch wide in ordinary specimens." Some specimens of this species appear to show an inflection of the extremity of the pinnules, as if from fructification. 83. Hymbnophyllites sub-furcatus, Dn.— (PI. XVI, Fig. 180.)— Acadian Geology, p. 652, Fig. 192, &c.— M. D., St. John, New Brunswick. " Similar in general form to Sphenopteris (H.) fursatus, Brong., but with broader and acute divisions of the pinnae." 84. Hymenopyllites Gersdorpii, Goeppert. — (PI. XVI, Fig. 182.) — M. D., St. John, New Brunswick. Quite similar to Goeppert's figures. 86. Hymbnophyllites obtusilobus, Goeppert. — (PI. XVI, Fig. 183.) — M.D., St. John, New Brunswick. Found with the preceding, which it closely resembles, except in its greater size. M 54 CANADIAN FOSSILS. , - t 86. Htmenophyllites Hildreti, Lesquereux.— (PI. XVI, Fig. 181.) — Rogers's Report on the Geology of Pennsylvania. — M, D., St. John, New Brunswick. Specimens procured by Mr. Weston at Lepreau appear to belong to the above named species. Lesijuereux's specimens were from beds at Kenawka Salines, which I suppose to be Devonian or Lower Carboniferous. According to Brongniart the genus HymenophyUites occurs both in the Carboniferous and Permian of Europe. Lesquereux, on the other hand, states that in Pennsylvania the genus Hymenophyllites is confined to the Devonian. In Nova Scotia I have described one species from Mr. Brown's collections from the coal-field of Cape Breton. It is evident, how- ever, from the descriptions by Unger of the Devonian ferns of Thur- ingia, from those of Lesquereux of those of Pennsylvania, and from the list of species above given, that the genus Hymenophyllites and the more delicate forms of the genus Sphenopteris were relatively much more abundant in the Devonian than in the Carboniferous period. It seems at present scarcely possible to eflFect any intelligiWe arrange- ment of these ferns in sub-genera. Schimper re-unites most of the ferns placed in the genera Hymenophyllites and Trichomanites with Sphenop- teris, and gives to the former genera merely a sub-generic value. Most of the species above mentioned would go into his sub-genus Hymeno- phylloides. Genus Alethopteris — Sternb. 87. Alethopteuis discrepans, Dn.— (PI. XVIII, Figs. 203 to 205. ) —J. G. S., XVIII, 222 ; PI. XV, Fig. 37.— M.D., St. John, J^ew Brunswick. " Bipinnate. Pinnules rather loosely placed on the secondary rachis, but connected by their decurrent lower sides, which form a sort of margin to the rachis. Midrib of each pinnule springing from its upper margin and proceeding obliquely to the middle. Nerves very fine and once-forked. Terminal leaflet broad." This fine fern is illustrated by a number of specimens in Prof. Hartt's collections, and has also been found at Lepreau. It is evidently very variable in the form of the pinnules, in this resembling the Car- boniferous A. lonohitioa, to which it is closely allied. Some of these varietal forms as illustrated in Prof. Hartt's recent collections deserve to be figured. PRE-CARBONIFEROUS PLANTS. 55 88. Alethopteris inqens, Dn.— (PI. XVIII, Fig. 206.)— lb.— M.D., St. John, New Brunswick. " Pinnules more than an inch wide, and three inches or more in length, with nervures at right angles to the midrib and forking twice. 89. Alethopteris Perlbyi, Hartt.— Acad. Geol. p. 552. — M. D., St. John, New Brunswick. " Allied to A. aerrula, Lesq., but pinnae wider and closer and not so long or so much united ; usually tridentate ; teeth acuminate, middle one sometimes emarginate; vein three-forked, sending a veinlet into each lacinia. The middle veinlet branches in the middle lacinia." Genus Pecopteris — Brong. 90. Pecopteris (Aspidites ?) 'serrdlata, Hartt. — (PI. XVIII, Figs. 207 to 209.)— Acad. Geol. p. 553, Fig. 92.— M. D.,St. John, New Brunswick. " Tripinnate ; pinnae short, alternate, close or open,lanceolate, very oblique, situated on a rather slender rounded subflexuose rachis ; pinnules small, linear lanceolate, crenulate, revolute, moderately acute, oblique, sessile, decurrent, widest at the base, open, separated from one another by a space equal to the width of a pinnule, slightly arched towards the point of pinna ; longest at base of pinna, decreasing thence gradually to the apex; terminal pinnule elon- gated. Median nerve entering the pinnule very obliquely, flexuous, running to the apex. Nervules very few, oblique, simple, and somewhat rarely forking at the margin." Numerous additional specimens of this species confirm Prof. Hartt's determination of its distinctness from P. pluinosa, Brongt. It perhaps more strongly resembles Goeppert's P. Silesiaoa ; but this last has broader and more closely arranged pinnules decurrent on the petiole. It may be taken as a Devonian representative of the deUcate Pecopterids of which the species above named are Carboniferous types. Mr. Hartt's specimens enable me to represent its habit of growth Schimper quotes under this name a Carboniferous species of Lesquereux. But Lesquereux's species is Aletliopteris serrula. mr s- 56 CANADIAN FOSSILS. •■•*v. 91. Pbcoptbris obscura? Lesquereux.— J. G. S., XVIII., 822.— M.D., St John, New Brunswick. 92. Pecopteris (AspiDiTES ?) PREOiosA, Hartt. — (PL XVIII., Figs. 210, 211).— Acad. Geol. 353.— M.D., St. John, New Brunswick. " Pinnae a little larger than those of the last species, not serrated ; placed nearly at right angles to the rachis, obtuse, narrow towards the extremity, suddenly widened, or almost auriculate at the lower side ; mid-rib extending to the apex ; nerves few, at a some- what acute angle." Somewhat more complete specimens in Prof. Hartt's collections show a little more of the habit of growth of this fern than was previously known- Both the pinnae and the pinnules were placed nearly at right angles to the petioles. 98. P. (Cyathites ?) DENSiPOLiA, S. N.— (PL XVII, Figs. 195, 193.)- M.D., St. John, N. B. Bi-pinnate, pinnules oblong, rounded at the ends, crowded together on a thick striated petiole, Mid-rih somewhat decurrent on the petiole, at an angle of about 45 ® . Veins few, forking once, oblique. Margins of the larger pinnules somewhat undulate. This new species occurs in Prof. Hartt's collections from Carlton, near St. John, N.B. f I , Genus Trichomanites — Goept. 94. Trichomanites filicola, Dn.— J. G. S., XIX, 464 ; PL XVII, Figs. 12, 13.— U. D., Perry, Maine. Pinnules slender, attached to long petioles, and bifurcating into slender 'points, 96. Trichomanites, sp. -J. G. S., XVIII, PL XVI, 50.— M. D., St. John, New Brunswick. . , , „ ... Bifurcate pinnules, extremely minute, thread-like, four to seven in each pinna. Both of these species are founded on fragments which are of doubtful character, and may prove to be merely skeletons of fronds. i PRE-OARBCNIFEROUS PLANTS. 67 K^ Petioles OF Ferns. ' ' ' '■ 96 to 100. Rhachiopteris, viz., (It. pinnata, R. ci/clopteroides, B- punctata, R. striata, R. tenui8triata.)—J. G. S., lb. Under this generic name I have described several detached leaf-stalkB of ferns, principally from New York and St. John, of which the fronds are unknown. I have nothing further to add, in respect to these, except that my recent specimens from Gaspe lead me to suspect that some of these supposed leaf-stalks may bo in reality decorticated stems of Psilophyton. Several detached leaf-stalks of ferns are in my collections from St. John, but they probably belong to some of the species above described. Though no fronds of ferns have yet been found in the Gasp^ plant-beds, with the exception of the pinnae of Cychpteris Jacksoni already referred to, obecuro specimens are not infrequent, which I think can be distinguished from stems of Psilophyton, and are probably petioles of ferns. One of these is figured in PI. VII., Fig. 80a. Two large and interesting specimens of petioles, probably of tree ferns, have recently been communicated to me by Prof. Hall. They are : 101. Rhachiopteris gigantea. Dn. This is the base of a large leaf-stalk somewhat flattened. It is smooth and marked with even longitudinal depressed lines, about twenty in number, dividing the surfaces into rounded ridges. It shows no structure, but has the remains of carbonized fibres or bundles of vessels at the larger end. It is from the Hamilton group (Middle Devonian) of New York. It is three inches in diameter, and must have supported a very large frond. 102. Rhachiopteris palmata,T>xx. a ; '. ;. v.* This is ten inches in length, flattened, and marked with furrows and ridges. It divides at the distal extremity in a palmate manner into five pedicels. From another specimen in Prof. Hall's collection, already referred to, I would infer that this petiole may possibly have borne fronds of the type of Cychpteris Rogersi, It is from the Hamilton group (Middle Devonian,) of New York. The number of stipes of ferns found in some of the Devonian beds is instructive, as indicating the amount of maceration which the fronds have undergone. In the Devoaion also as in the Carboniferous, few fronds showing fructificatioa occur. ,' w 'V9 . CANADIAN FOSSILS. * ' '■ f Trunks of Tebe Fbrns. 103. P$aron{us Urianm, S. N. — M. D., New York. Trunk completely invested with cord-like aerial roots parallel to each other, and either closely oppressed or arranged at regular interval*. Each root consisting of an outer, probably cellular^ coat, with an axis of fibres and tcalari/orm or reticulated vessels. C « ■ .^,^' - '^ ' ! -M ■ ■ f'i'ilt' ■ Psaroniu* Eriatuu. From a Specimen from New Tork. (Exterior witli aerial roots, reduced.) Ptaronius textilit. From a Specimen from New York (Longitudinal Section.) PRE-CABB0NIFER0D8 PLANTS. 69 The minute structures are not well preserved. The specimens are from Madison Co., N. Y. — Hamilton Group ; in Prof. Hall's collections. 104. Psaronius textiliSfS.N. — U. D., New York. ' ' ' - -■ Trunk, with the outer surface marked with irregular ridges and furrows, produced by tortuous aerial roots, which in the centre of the stem are seen to he interlaced with each other. They are less tortuous in what seems to be the upper part of the fragment. This specimen is in Prof. Hall's collection, and is from Gilboa, New York, where these trunks are stated to occur in an erect position in sand- stone. I may add to the above that Dr. Newberry has communicated to me two well-characterized trunks of tree ferns from the Devonian of Ohio, and another from Gilhoa New York, so that the occurrence of large tree ferns in the Erian Flora is now well established. They are : — Caulopteris Lockwoodi, (reduced.) From a Specimen from Gilboa, New York. 105. Caulopteris LocKWOODi,Dn.— U. D.,New York. 106. Caulopteris antiqua, Newberry. — L. D., Ohio. 107. Protoptbris peregrina, Newberry. — L. D., Ohio. Caulopteris antiqua, (reduced.) Ohio. # CANADIAN FOSSILS. I have described these three species in a paper contributed to the Geological Society of London, March 22, 1871. They have not been found in Canada ; but are of interest as shewing the existence of tree ferns in strata even older than the fern beds of St. John. In Gasp<5 I have found some fossil stems which are probably tree ferns, but too obscure for description. Illustrations of two of these trunks of tree ferns are given in the wood-cuts. (^Fruitfi, ^o). Genus — Cardiooarpum— Bronq. 108. Cardiooarpum cornutum, Dn. — (PI. XIX., Figs 214 to 218.) —J. G. S., XVIII 324; PI. XIII., Figs 23 and 24.— M.D., St- John, New Brunswick. " Broadly ovate, emarginate at base, dividing into two inflexed processes at top. A mesial line proceeds frMi the sinus between the cusps, downward. Nucleus more obtuse than the envelope, and acuminate at the top. Surface of the flattened envelope striate, that of the nucleus more or less rugose. Length about seven lines." 109. Cardiooarpum Baxlbyi, Dn.— (PI. XIX., Fig. 219.)— Acad. Geol., p. 554. — M. D., St. John, New Brunswick. Broadly cordate; emarginnte at apex, one inch and ahalfhroad, one inch long. Nuclcitt large, broadly oval, acuminate, with a mesial line reaching to the ends. 110. Cardiooarpum Crampii, Hartt— (PI. XIX., Figs. 220 to 222.)— , Acad. Geol., p. 554. — M.D., St. John, New Brunswick. Elongate, slightly expanding at the middle, obtuse at base. Obtuse or emar- ginate at apex. Length about one inch, greatest breadth about two fifths of an inch ; nucleus small, central, oval, connected by a mesial line with the extremities. Surface of margin slightly rugose." 111. Cardiooarpum ovale, S. N.— (PI. XX, Figs. 223, 224.)— M.D., St. John, New Brunswick. . ., - Oval and destitute of a notch, the sides of the margin expanded laterally, the nucleus ovate and acuminate. - •. This species, found with those above-named, but more rarely, seems to have been of aimilar structure. PRB-CARB0NIFER0U8 PLANTS. 61 112. Cardiooarpum obliquum, Dn.— (PI. XIX, Figs. 225, 226.)— J. G. S., XVIII, 824; PI. XIII, Fig. 25.— M. D., St. John, New Brunswick. *' Unequally cordate, acuminate, smooth, with a strong rib passing down the middle ; length about three lines." This species may have been of different character from the preceding, or may have been a nucleus deprived of its invest'ucnts. All of the above species of fruits agree in having a dense coaly nucleus of appreciable thickness, even in the flattened specimens, and surrounded by a thin and veinless wing or margin. They have thus precisely the ap- pearance of samaras of many existing forest trees, some of which they also resemble in the outline of the margin, except that the wings of samaras are usually veiny. They are in like manner very similar to the Cardiocarpa of the coal-formation. The character of the nucleus and the occasional appearance in it of marks possibly representing cotyledons or embryos, forbids the supposition that they are spore-cases. They must have been fruits of Phacnogams. Whether they were winged fruits or seeds, or fruits with a pulpy envelope like those of Cycads and some Conifers, may be considered less certain. The not infrequent distortion of the margin is an argument in favour of the latter view, though this may also be supposed to have occurred in samaras partially decayed. On the other hand, their being always apparently flattened in one plane, and the nucleus being seldom, if ever, found denuded of its margin, are arguments in favour of their having been winged nutlets or seeds. Until recently I had regarded the latter view as more probable, and so stated the matter in the second edition of Acadian Geology. Last winter, however, when examining the collection of Dr. Newberry, in New York, that accomplished palaeontologist pointed out to me the close resemblance between some fruits of this kind from the Carboniferous of Ohio and the drupaceous fruits of a recent Cycad. Re-examining the numerous specimens in Prof. Hartt's collection with this additional light, I have arrived at the conclusion that the Cardiocarpa of the type of 0. cornutum were Gymnospermous seeds, having two cotyledons imbedded in an albumen and covered with a strong membranous or woody tegmen surrounded by a fleshy outer coat, and that the notch at the apex represents the foramen or micropyle of the ovule. The structure was indeed very similar to that of the seeds of I'axus and of Saliaburya. In Plate XIX, Figs. 216 and 217 show very well the nucleus with its cotyledons and investing tegmen, while Fig. 218 shows « CANADIAN VOBSILfl. tho outer cont or floshy testa, and exhibits the true character of the terminal notch or foramen.* Genus Triqongcarpum — Bronq. 118. Trioonocarpum racbmosum, Dawson— (Pl.XIX, Fig. 227.)— J. 0. 8 , XVIII, 324 ; PI. XVI, Fig. 47.— M. D., St. John, New Bruns- wick. " Ovate, obtusely acuminate, in some specimens triangular at apex. In flattened specimens tho envelope appears as a wing. Fruits attached in an alternate manner to a thick, flexuous, furrowed rachis." 114. Trigonooarpom perantiquum, S. N.— (PI. XIX, Fig. 228.) Ovate; when full grown, half an inch wide and one inch long, with obscure indicationa of riba toward the narrow end. St. John, Now Brunswick, in Prof. Hartt's collections. All are badly preserved. They resemble some of the Carboniferous Trigonocarpa. All Trigonocarpa, properly so called, are, I have no doubt from their associations, fruits of SigillaritB or of Conifers ; and the first species men* tioned above shows that in some cases at least they were borne in racemes . a circumstance which should perhaps connect them with some of the spikes of fructification of the genus AnViolithea. Genus Carpolithes. — Sterne. 115. Carpolithes siliqua, Dawson.— J. G. S., XIX, 465 ; PI. XVII, Fig. 4. — U. D., Perry, Maine. " Elongate, smooth, flattened, sides slightly sinuate ; two inches or less in length ; a quarter of an inch or less in breadth." 118. Carpolithes spicatus, Dawson. — J. G. S., XIX, 461 ; PI. XVII, Fig. 15. — U. D., Perry, Maine. " Carpels or spore-cases : oval, about a line in length, apparently with a thick outer coat ; densely placed on a thick rachis." This I now think may be the fruit of a species of Arthrostigma. • Though I hare no doubt that the abore is the correct interpretation of C. cornutum, I do not regard it aa applicable to all Cardiocarpa, in some of which the outer envelope, initead of being succulent, raay have been compressed into a wing. This was probably th* caw with C. Baileyi, which as M" Carruthers aud Dr. Hooker have pointed out to me, is not diMimilar from the winged seeds o. 'he curious WtlwiUchia mirabUit, PUE-CARB0NIPER008 PLANTS. 117. Carpolitheb lunatcs, DawBon. — J. 0. 8., XIX, 464 i PI. XYII, : Fig. 11. —U. D., Perry, Maine. '^ ' " Base rounded regularly, apex broadly truncate and mucronate ; nu- oleus surrounded with a narrow margin." 118. Carpolithbs compactus, S. N.— (PI. XIX, Fig. 229.) Oroups of small, nval hodifs, about one-eighth of an inch in diameter, lying ts mauet at if they had been attached to a thick and short stalk. This is evidently a mass of fructification, but of unknown nature. It is from St. John. Gbnub Antholithes. — Brong. 119. Antholithes Devonicus, Dawson. — (PI. XIX, Fig. 285.) — Acad. Geology, p. 666, Fig. 194.— M. D., St. John, New Brunswick. " Stipe thick, rugose ; flowers distichous, somewhat distant, each with straight strong spine or bract and several broader scales." I figure a very fine and perfect specimen of this species, and have attempted a partial restoration of it in fig. 2:J8, b. c. In this species the floral leaves are so well marked, and the indications of internal filaments representing stamens or pistils are so distinct, that I cannot doubt that it is a spike of fructification of some phaenogamous plant. ^ . 120. Antholithes plortdus, S. N.— (PI. XIX, Fig. 236.) Flowers or buds composed of six to nine sub-equal oblong obtuse bracts or floral leaves ; arranged in an opposite manner on a thick rugose axis. This species at first sight recalls the curious Permian Schiltzia anomala of Geinitz ; but it wants the scaly bracts of that species. Like the former this must, I suppose, have been the fructification of some phsanogamous, possibly gymnospermous plant. Genus Sporangites. — Dn. 121. Sporangites acuminata, Dn.— (PI. XIX, Figs 232 to 284.) " Spore-cases : oblong acuminate, six to nine in a whorl ; erect, or slightly spreading. Dehiscence lateral." I place under this name the objects described in former papers as Amwhria aeumnata. Additional specimeui lead me to believe that 64 CANADIAN FOSSILS. these supposed whorls of leaves are really clusters of spore-cases which may have belonged to Psilophyton or to ferns. They are not very dis- similar from the spore-cases of Psilophyton robustiua. 122. Sporangites Huronensis. Dn. — Silliman'a Journal, April, 1871. Canadian Naturalist, Vol. V, new series. Underthis name I have described the small globular papillate spore-cases found so abundantly at Kettle Point, Lake Huron, in beds believed to be of Hamilton age. They are probably spore-cases of some Lepidodendroid plant, and are so abundant as to give a highly bituminous character to the shale. Various Fruits, &c. •^ -^*--.v In Figures 230 to 232, 1 have represented several obscure seeds and similar organs from St. John, and in Figs. 124 to 126, PI. X, some similar objects from Gasp^. That in fig. 126 is probably a concretion enclosing some organic body, the others may perhaps be badly preserved fragments belonging to some of the species above described. It will be observed that the above mentioned fruits and floral organs constitute a series strictly parallel to the more common fruits of the Car- boniferous ; so that whatever genera these last belonged to, must have been represented also in the Devonian. Unfortunately our knowledge of the affinities of Carboniferous fruits is too imperfect to give us much informa- tion on those of the older series. Such inferences as I have been able to draw I have already staled above. {Angioapermous Exogen.') Genus Syringoxtlon. — Dn. 123. Syringoxylon mirabile, Dn. — Journal of Geological Society, XVIII, 305 ; PI. XII, Fig. 145.— M.D., New York. I have nothing to add to the description of the species cited above : but after careful re-examination of the sUces prepared, find my views of its structure and affinities, therein stated, fully confirmed. I give improved drawings of some of these structures in a supplementary cut, shewing the nature of it,s dotted ducts and woody fibres, in hopes that they may be recognised in this country. - ' ' '" : 'v ■ • As the only plant of this grade as yet known in the Palaeozoic rocks, it is of the greatest interest ; and I have sought earnestly for further examples, carefully examining all fragments of Devonian wood which I have been able to obtain. As yet, however, no other specimen has been PRE-CARBONIFEROUS PLANTS. 65 obtained than that from the Hamilton Group (Middle Devonian), at Eighteen Mile Creek on Lake Erie, originally submitted to me by Prof. Hall. Syringoxylon Mirabile. Fig. 1. Transverse section, lOOdiametars, showing vessels, woods-cells and medullary rays. Fig. 2 and 3. Portions of the same, 300 diameters. Fig. 4. Longitudinal section of dotted duct, wood-cells and medullary rays, 300 diameters. Fig. 6. Wall of dotted duct, 600 diameters. Fig. C. Wood-cells and medullary rays, 600 diameters. IJNCEaTAiN Species. Megaphyton, sp. — J. G. S., XVIII. Acanthophyton spinosum, Dn. — J. G. S., XVIII. Cyclopteris incerta, Dn. — Ibid. Fern with netted veins, Dnj — J. G. S., XIX. Cyclopteris, sp., Dn. — Ibid. Selaginites formosus, Dn.— Can. Nat., VI; J. G. S., XVIII, 316. The first five of the above are forms still too uncertain to be classified. The last I desire to abandon as a vegetable species. It was founded on specimens obtained at Gasp^, which seemed to me to represent scaly stems or branches. The late Mr. Salter suggested that they might be fragments of some Eurypteroid crustacean. At the time I thought that the shape of the specimens precluded this supposition, but a number of additional fragments since obtained, have convinced me that Mr. Salter r — 66 CANADIAN FOSSILS. was right, and consequently, that a great quantity of fragments of a large species of Eurypterm have been entombed in one of the shales associated, with the coal-bed near Tar Point. (^Fmdogen f) 125. Noeggeraihia Grilboensis, Dn. — Proc. Geol. Socy., 1871. This is a rhombic-obovate leaf with a broad base and radiating nerves or plicae, with finer striae between them. It is 3i*o inches long and 2i inches broad. It was collected by Rev. Mr. Lockwood, in Gilboa, New York. Its affinities are very uncertain. (2.) Vegetable Fossils of the Upper Silurian Limestones of Gaspi. These limestones immediately underlie the Gaspd Sandstones, and constitute the Peninsula of Cape Gasp^, in which they are admirably exposed. According to the measurements of Sir W. E. Logan they are 2000 feet in thickness. They consist of pure and earthy limestones^ alternating with shaly bands, and rest unconformably on the shales of the Quebec Group (Lower Silurian). Their fossils, as examined by Mr. Billings, indicate that they are of the age of the Lower Helderberg Group of New York, equivalent to the Ludlow of English geologists. The Gasp^ Limestones are, throughout their whole thickness, essentially marine ; and many of the beds, especially in the upper part, are loaded with animal fossils, principally corals and shells of Brachiopoda. Here and there remains of plants occur, but so rarely that they ^ould perhaps have been scarcely noticed but for the excellent exposure of the rocks. They are principally fucoids, and these chiefly of two kinds. (1.) The remarkable spiral fronds of the geaus Spirophyton, Hall, the Fucoide» Cauda-galli of the earlier New York reports. These occur principally in some of the lower beds, though they extend upward into the bottom beds of the Devonian Sandstones. (2.) Tortuous linear fronds or stems, probably originally cylindrical, sometimes smooth, and in other cases presenting a scaly appearance, which, however, seems to be due to the arrangement of laminae of fine Sediment filling the interior of the moulds left by the stems. These scaly markings are sometimes so regular as to give the appearance of the Liassic fucoids to which Brongniart has given the name Phgmatoderma, and which Schimper compares to species of Caulerpa. I believe, however, that the plants now under consideration were either long stems of frondose Algae allied to iSpirophgton, or cylindri- cal plants allied to Chorda. Other fragments show the remains of a distinct internal woody axis, and. maet have been portions of acrogenous plants comparable with Psilophyton. PRE-CARBONIFERODS PLANTS. 67 glahrum of the Devonian beds ; but they are too imperfect to show their generic affinities. (Fig. 2^9). Others are branching stems, the form and markings of which show that they belong to Psilophi/ton, and probably to the species P. robustiua, (Fig. 243) . Others are obviously Rhizomata of Psilophyton, sb owing the ramenta and areoles ; and one specimen collected by Mr. R. Bfll, when exploring these rocks in connection with the Geological Survey, shows the scalariform axis, and outer fibrous bark in excellent preservation, thus fully proving its true nature, and vindicating the less perfect specimens from the doubts which in the minds of many botanists might otherwise rest upon them. This specimen is represented in PI. XX, Figs. 241, 242 ; and I have shown its structure in PI. XI, Figs. 133 and 134. These remains of Psilophi/ton occur in the lower part of the limestone, but are more abundant in the upper beds, and they suffice to indicate the existence of neighbouring land, probably composed of the Lower Silurian rocks, and supporting vegetation. That this vegetation consisted wholly of plants of the genus Piilophyton we are under no necessity to believe, as the almost exclusive prevalence of these plants in some parts of the overlying sandstones, deposited at a time when we know that other plants existed, shows that in the Devonian period itself, this particular genus wa« either much more abundant than other forms of plants, or much more favourably situated for preservation. It is interesting to observe that just as a few remains of plants in the marine limestones testify to the occurrence of neighbouring land, so an occasional shell of Orthoceras or a few Brachiopods may sometimes be found in the plant-bearing Devonian sandstones, showing that these were accessible to the driftage of oceanic remains ; but we have no right in either case to assume that these exceptional remains represent the wealth of either the land or the sea in organic forms. III. General Remarks and Conclusions. (1.) Physical Condition of Eastern America in the Devonian Period. As Hall and Dana have pointed out,* North America presented, in the earlier part of the Upper Silurian period, a great internal ocean, partially separated from the basin of the Atlantic by a more or less contin- uous belt of sand-banks or islands, representing the older portions of the Appalachian range of hills, and bounded on the north by Laurentian and in part by Lower Silurian land. These conditions prevailed during the deposition of the great Niagara limestones (Wenlock) ; and in the imme- • Report on Pal. of N. York, Vol. III.— Manual of Geology. I ■ijjfe' «8 CANADIAN FOSSILS. diately succeeding or Salina epoch, there seems to have been a uniform elevation, leading to the prevalence over the same area, of shallow waters, liable in part to actual desiccation. Toward the close of the period, as in the like portion of each of the great cycles of American Palaeozoic history, subsidence again occurred, and the marine limestones of the Lower Hel- derberg (Ludlow) formation overspread a still wider area in the eastern part of the continent than did those of the Niagara. Hence we find the marine beds of the Lower Helderberg rising high on the slopes of the Appalachians, while such patches as that of St. Helen's Island near Montreal * show that they at one time covered the Lower Silurian plain of Canada. The subsidence which enabled them to do this, was apparently accompanied by the ejection of the trappean masses which penetrate the Lower Silurian beds, and among the fragmentary debris of whose bases the remaining portions of Lower Heldorberg limestone have in some places, as near Montreal, been entangled and preserved. In like manner, in Gaspd, in Anticosti, in New Brunswick, in Nova Scotia ajid in Maine, ■we have the extension of the same Lower Helderberg sea, proved by its fossiliferous deposits. And though, as I have elsewhere observed,! *b® fossils of the Nova Scotia rteks of this age, (Arisaig group) show a ten- deacy to European rather tlian to American types, this merely indicates the partial interruption of the continuity of the great oceanic area, by the remaining shoals of the Appalachian ridge. It would thus appear that at the close of the Upper Silurian, the area of land in Eastern North America was at a minimum ; being probably less than at any preceding period since th« deposition of the great Trenton limestones of the Lower Silurian. At the beginning of the Devonian a slow and gradual emergence, not accompanied by any fractures or physical disturbances, appears to have commenced. The wide spread of the Oriskany sandstone, and its accompanying arenaceous beds, indicates this change. This re-elevation was earlier and more permanent near the Atlantic coast than farther inland. "West of the Appalachians, the Comiferous limestone, probably the finest coral limestone in the American Palaeozoic serie3, indicates a wide internal ocean ; while in Gasp€, New Brunswick and Maine, its place is occupied by beds filled with land-plants, and some of them even under- clays or fossil soils, like those of the Coal-formation. Similar conditions followed somewhat later in the West ; and the Comiferous limestone was covered with the shales and sands of the Hamilton and Chemung series, during the deposition of which the condition of all North America must have approached to that which it afterwards assumed in the time of the • Report of Geology of Canada, 1863. t Acadian Geology.— Sec also paper by Dr. Honoyraan, in Journal of Geol. Society, '' . / PRE-CARBONIFEROUS PLANTS. 69 Coal-formation, though presenting some characteristic differences, more especially in the less extensive prevalence of swampy flats. Con- temporaneously -with the very beginning of these physical changes appeared the Erian Flora. Already, before the close of the Tipper Silurian, the first patches of emerging land must have become clothed with Pailophyton, and by the time of the Middle Devonian the flora of the period had, at least on the Atlantic coast, ' attained to its culminating point. At the time when the Erian or Devonian Flora attained to its greatest extension, there must have been in Canada a considerable extent of Lau- rentian and Lower Silurian land. The Adirondack hills were out of the water, and so were the older portions of the Appalachians, and from these there stretched to the East, West and South, considerable tracts of low land ; portions of which were alternately dry and submerged according to the varying level of the continent. Upon these flats, and in part also, probably, on the neighbouring hills, flourished the plants which have been described in the preceding pages, and which appear to have enjoyed climatal and atmospherical conditions similar to those of the Carboniferous period, but with a smaller continental area and greater proportionate irregularity of surface. At the close of the Devonian, in the regions lying east of the Appa- lachians, great physical disturbances occurred. The lowest Carbonifer- ous rocks are generally coarse and conglomerated, often interstratified with contemporaneous trap, and rest unconformably on the Devonian. The latter rocks are much altered, and this metamorphosis is connected with the intrusion of great masses and dykes of granite which penetrate the Devonian, and were consolidated before the deposition of the lowest Car- boniferous beds. These disturbances were the prelude to the great change in animal and vegetable life which wo find in the lowest Carboniferous beds, and to the subsidence evidenced by the prevalence of the Lower Carboniferous limestones, which separate as by a great gulf the Lower Carboniferous flora from that of the Middle Coal formation. In the east these changes were already in progress in the latter part of the Devonian, as evidenced by the coarse sandstones and conglo- merates of the old red sandstone. In the west they did not occur, or were postponed till after the Carboniferous had begun, since in Ohio we find a gradual passage from the Devonian into the Carboniferous, while a par- tial unconformability occurs between the Lower Carboniferous and the Coal-formation. Even in the west, however, the Devonian Flora disap- pears at the beginning of the Carboniferous period. 70 CANADIAN FOSSILS. The above general sketch may serve to present a view of this remark- able period in Eastern America. It might be illustrated in detail bj a great number of local examples. These will be found in the Surveys of :New York, Pennsylvania and other States of the American Union, in the ' Report of the Survey of Canada, and in the author's "Acadian Geology." In Europe such a general view is attended with greater diflSculty, owing to the less breadth of the formations and the greater prevalence of local diversities, and also to the want of definition in some localities between the Upper Devonian and the Lower Carboniferous. Still the same divi- sion into Lower, Middle and Upper Devonian exists, and the same genercl relation both in fossils and physical conditions, to the Upper Silurian on the one hand, and the Carboniferous on the other. V-l!. . n: (2.) Comparison with the Carboniferous Flora. Genetically the Flora of the Erian or Devonian is in the main identical with that of the Carboniferous, and the most important and characteristic Carboniferous genera are also among those best represented in the older Flora. On the other hand, while some Carboniferous genera have not yet been recognized in the Devonian, the latter possesses some peculiar generic forms of its own, and these are especially abundant in the lower part of the system. As examples of such genera I may name Psilophyton, J^rototaxites, Leptophleum and Arthrostigma. Further, it may be re^ marked that these peculiar Erian plants present highly composite or synthetic types of structure, giving to them a more archaic air than that of the Carboniferous flora. Perhaps the most remarkable of all the generic differences of the Carboniferous and Erian flora is the occurrence in the latter of the ex- ogenous genus Syringoxylon, a type altogether unknown otherwise in the Palaozoic. In one point of view this may indicate the greater variety and perfection of the older of the two floras. In another it may merely warn us as to the imperfection of our knowledge. With regard to the proportionate prevalence of particular genera, we are as yet scarcely in a position to make any definite statement. Not only is our information very incomplete, but there is a remarkable variety in the Devonian itself, in different localities. In Gasp^, for example, Prototaxites and Psilophyton are predominant forms. In New Brunswick, New York, and Ohio, these forms are less abundant. In New Brunswick fronds of ferns are present in great numbers, while they have scarcely been found in Gasp^ ; and trunks of tree ferns and petioles without leaves have been found abundantly in Ohio and New York, where fronds of these plants are comparatively rare. We can scarcely at present decide whether these differences result *^ PRE-CARBONIFBRODS PLANTS. 71 from dififorent facilities for preservation,* or from local diversities of soil and climate, or from different dates of the plant-bearing beds. On the whole, however, as I have elsewhere remarked, while the distribution of genera in the Devonian leads us to infer climatal conditions in the main resembling those of the Carboniferous, it would also lead us to conclude that the local diversities were greater, and that there was less of that dead level of similar local conditions which prevailed so extensively in the . Carboniferous period. The Devonian plants probably grew on limited rocky islands, bordered by much less extensive and permanent lowlands than those of the Carboniferous era. Specifically the Devonian flora is almost altogether distinct from the Carboniferous. Even the same genera are represented by distinct species, and it is possible that some of the few species which we now identify with those of the Coal, will in future be found to be distinct. I presume, at least, that this is more likely than that those esteemed distinct shall be found to be identical. The specific differences also point in certain definite directions. The <5oniferou8 trees are of more lax texture, and with larger woody fibre in the Pre-Carboniferous beds. The Sigillariw and Lepidodendra are smaller and more delicate. The ferns present a tendency to the extremes of small and delicate, and very large and expanded fronds. They have generally a tendency to a flabellato venation decurrent on the petiole. There is a remarkable abundance and variety of Lycopodiacoous plants. We shall find that it is probable that in the course of the Devonian period itself, great changes occurred in some of these points. Of all the known localities of Brian plants in Eastern America, that of Oaspd presents an assemblage the most primitive and the least Carbon- iferous in aspect. That of Southern New Brunswick gives us a flora the most akin to that of the Carboniferous. The lower part of the Gasp^ aeries undoubtedly reaches to the base of the Devonian ; this is proved by its marine fossils, but its middle and upper parts must be at least on as high a horizon as that of the New Brunswick beds. More especially does this appear when we consider that, as I have shown in a previous paper, and as Prof. Bailey and Mr. Matthew have since fully confirmed, the latter have been altered and disturbed before the deposition of the Lowest Carboniferous beds, and that they appear to underlie the Devonian beds of Perry in Maine. These facts show that they should be regarded not as Upper Devonian, as I was at first inclined to believe, but as belonging to the middle of the series. • In the Middle Devonian we may conceiTe the plant beds of Nevr Brunswick to rtproMnt «n estuary or swampy lagoon, while those of New York and Ohio are open lea areu, into )otany, to observe that the facies of the Erian flora is very similar on both sides of the Atlantic, so that a botanist familiar with the differences between the plants of the ■Carboniferous and Devonian in America or in Europe, would have no diiiiculty in applying this knowledge to the separation of the rocks of these periods in any part of either continent. When in London in the spring of 1870, I was enabled, through the kindness of Mr. Etheridge and Mr. Carruthers, to examine the specimens * Salter on Plants of Caithness, t E. Q. CUptidroptii antiqua. Journal of Qeol. Society, Vol. XIV. 1 76 CANADIAN FOSSILS. of Upper Silurian and Devonian plants from Oreat Britain and Ireland, in the collections of Jormjn Street and in the British Museum. These collections illustrate the descriptions of Dr. Hooker, Mr. Salter and Mr. Bailey, and contain besides some unpublished material. They enable mo to add the following comparisons. In specimens from the Upper Silurian (Ludlow bods), in addition to the remarkable bodies described by Hooker under the name Pachytheca, and which are probably spore-cases, there are fragments of flattened stems which may be referred with some probability to Pailophyton, and small pieces of carbonized \\ood, showing under the microscope a distinctly fibrous structure with indications of discs. They may well have belonged to a plant of the nature of PrototaxitM.* In specimens from the Middle Devonian of Scotland, the remarkable stem described by Salter as Caulopterit Peachii indicates a sub-arborescent fern, with large fronds, of which the petioles alone remain. Lepidodendron nothum, identified by the same author, is a plant closely allied to L. Gaspia- num. A species referred to Selaginites, may belong to the same general group with Lycopoditea Richardfoni. There are also fragments referri- ble to Psilophyton princepa and P. rohustius, and portions of carbonized stems, for the most part structureless, but one of which shows woody tissue with oval pores inscribed in hexagonal meshes, and which may have belonged to Sigillaria or Calamodendron. > ■ From the Upper Devonian of Ireland, there are fine collections made by Mr. Bailey in the Kiltorcan bods. In these Cyclopteria (Archoeopteris) Sibernica represents our American C. Jacksoni and its allies. There are two Sphenopterids, Filicitea Uneatus of Bailey, and Humphrianus of Schimper. There is also a remarkable series of specimens believed to illustrate the genus Cyclostigma of Haughton.f The smaller branches and stems aro those described by Haughton. The larger stems have rounded margined areoles with a central scar, and spirally arranged, some- times on faint narrow ribs like those of Syringodendron which the scars also resemble ; and there are well developed Stigmaria roots and Lepidoden- droid leaves and strobiles referred to the same plant. The largest stems are labeled Sagenaria Baileyana^ but they certainly do not belong to the genus Sagenaria as heretofore defined. If the whole of the parts referred to this plant really belong to one species, it will constitute one of the most remarkable of the composite types of the Devonian, and may prove characteristic of it. My species Cyclostigma densifolium is of the same * Slices of these plants hay« been prepared throu({h the kindness of Mr. Btheridge, and' I have no hesitation in stating my belief that they indicate the existence in the Upper Silu- rian of England, of trees of the type of Prototaxitei. t Proceedings Royal Irish Academy. PRK-CARBONIFBRCUH PLANTS. 77 character with tho branches of the present species. The Irish plants as a whole would seem to have been larger and better developed than those of North America in the Upper Devonian oeriod, perhaps a consequence of climatal difference. From the typical districts of Devonshire, I have seen only a few speci- mens, from the collection of Mr. Hall of Barnstaple, in tho possession of Mr. Ethoridge. They appear to indicate a largo fern, perhaps Cyclopttrit Hibemica, and a coarsely ribbed Calamitea apparently of the type of C. cannivformis. Coniferous wood was long ago recognized by Miller in tho Devonian of Scotland; and from a recent description of tho specimens by Mr. McNab of Cirencester,* they would seem to bo roferrible to tho type of Dadoxylon. While in Edinburgh I was favoured by Mr. C. W. Poach with an inspection of his interesting collection of plants from the Devonian of the North of Scotland, and have also looked over a few specimens of similar plants from the oollecti(»i3 of tho late Hugh Millar, exhibited in the Edinburgh Museum. In these collections, more especially in that of Mr. Peach, I find two species of Psilophi/ton, — one of them apparently P. princepa, the other allied to P. robuitiuh, but probably distinct. None of the specimens show the fructification, but there are large and well- preserved rhizomata ; and according to Mr. Poach these plants are as abundant, relatively to others, in the Middle Devonian of Scotland as in that of Gasp^, though they have hitherto been regarded as fucoids or roots. On many of tho specimens I can plainly perceive all the diatmctlve markings of Psilopht/ton. There are apparently, in Mr. Peach's collec- tions, three species of Lepidodendroid plants. One these, identified with L. nothum by Mr. Salter, whether identical with tho species of linger or not, is closely allied to L. Qaspianum. Another, is obviously of the same typo with my Cyclostigma densifolium from Gaspd, and with the branchlets of Cycloitigma from Kiltorcan in Ireland. The third, Lycopoditea Milleri of Salter, may have been an herbaceous plant. Mr. Peach's collections also include a Cyelopteris of the type of 0. Brownii, a Calamites resembling C. transitionia, a Stigmaria, fragments which may be bark of Siyillaria, a plant possibly referable to tho genus Anarthrocanna, and stems or branches probably coniferous, though the structure does not appear to be well preserved. When these collections shall be described in detail, it will be found that the Devonian of Scotland is not so poor in land plants as has been supposed, and that its flora is very similar to that of America in the same period. * Philoa. Haga. 78 CANADIAN FOSSILS. (4) Belaiions to Older Florat, As already stated in the opening of these remarks, the close of the- Upper Silurian Period in Eastern America was a time of minimum extent of land. Hence, the Upper Silurian beds, immediately under the Devonian, are decidedly marine, and in entering them we not only pass to older rocks, but also recede from the land, so that for both these reasons we might expect to find a great diminution in the number of land plants. Further, in accordance with the views which have been so well illustrated by Prof. Hall as to the derivation of American Silurian sediment from th» North-east, and the gradual extension in each succeeding period of land and shallow water to the South-west, we should expect to find the oldest land-plants toward the North-east. Accordingly it is in Gasp^ that as yet we have the only link of connec- tion of the Brian Flora with that of the Silurian period. .In the marine limestones of Cape Gasp^, holding shells and corals of Lower Helderberg age, along with some indeterminable plants, probably fucoids, we have, as already stated, fragmental stems and distinct rhizomes oi Piilophyton, some of them showing the scalariform axis well preserved. These frag- ments must have been drifted from the lard, and as in the immediately succeeding Lower Devonian heda, Pailophyton is associated with Prototao itet, Arthrostigma, and Oalumites, but is the most abundant of the whole, it is not unlikely that in the Upper Silurian land it was associated with plants of these genera. Nor is it necessary to suppose that the duration of the existence of the plants represented by these fragments was short. In the modern Pacific the area of land is very small, and few remains of land-plants are pro- bably preserved in the marine deposits now in progress. But if that great basin were elevated, so that much low land would exist in it, and also wide spaces of shallow water with ^nuddy bottoms charged wi imeroug land-plants, it would not be fair to assume that the comparatively sparse vegetable remains of the lower marine beds represented either a very meagre flora or one of short du/ation. The same reasoning would apply to the Lower Helderberg limeswnes as compared with the succeeding Gasp6 Sandstones. More especially would this be the case if the plants in ques- tion belonged to an older flora migrating from the nortli-eastward, as the new lands laid bare at the beginning of the Devonian Pjriod gradually rose above the waters. In any case, these well characterised Upper Silurian land-plants^ described by me in 1863,* distinctly prove that before the disappearance of the Upper Silurian marine fauna, or of the ocean in which it lived, there • Journal of Geol. Society, XIX. PRE-CARBONIFEROUB PLANTS. T^. already existed land clothed with at least one genus of Lycopodiaceous plants^. and this the same which ' irgely predominates in the succeeding Lower Devonian, in which, however, these plants, occurring merely as drifted fragments in the Upper Silurian limestones, are found in vast numbers in a perfect state of preservation, '-.nd rooted in the soil in which they grew. Below the Upper Silurian our knowledge of the land flora in Eastern America altogether fails. Notwithstanding the evidence of shallow- water conditions on the flanks of the Appalachians, in the conglomerates and sandstones of the base of the Upper Silurian, no land-plants have been found in these beds ; and though in the Lower Silurian the Potsdam sand- stone, skirting the base of the old Laurentian nucleus, must have been formed near the shore, and sometimes abounds in carbonized fragments, perhaps of fucoids, no certain traces of land-plants have been found in it. This is the more remarkable since m some portions of the Lower Silurian period a broad surface of land must have existed in the northern part of Canada. Could we discover the estuaries of any of the streams which flowed from this old land, some hope might be entertained of the discovery of terrestrial vegetation. If, however, with Prof. Hall, we regard the origin of the Silurian sediments and of the land flora to have been in the north-east, it is possible th.it the rocks of Newfoundland or Labrador, or beds now buried under the Atlantic, may be those which alone contain the remains of the Lower Silurian plants. In Europe the precursors of the Devonian flora are better known than in America. The Paehytheca of Hooker from the Ludlow Bone-Bed, may be regarded as of similar age with the Psilophyton of the Gasp6 limestone y and like it probably Lycopodiaceous. Of equally ancient date are the Sagenarios (^Lepidodendra) discovered by Geinitz in the Upper Silurian of Lobenstein, and by Barrande in that t)f Hosten, Bohemia, and the Hostinella of Burr from the last mentioned locality.* The Eopkyton of Torrell, from a much lower horizon in Sweden, I regard as a doubtful plant, similar forms being apparently produced by impressions of feet or fins on the surface of mud. If a land -plant, however, the E. Linoeanum is more nearly allied to Fsilophyton than to any other genus. Whatever the nature of these forms, they are present in the Primordial of America as well. Mr. Murray has found them in Newfoundland and Mr. Selwyn in Nova Scotia, in rocks probably of this age. The E. explanatum of Mr. Hicks from the Lower Areiiig rocks of Wales is apparently something quite different, and its microscopic structure would seem to be similar to that of the Nematoxylon of the Devonian, if it is a plant at all, and not a marine * fiigsby'g Thesaurus iSUuricus, p. 19i. 80 CANADIAN FOSSILS. > organism allied to Pyritonema of McCoy, a fossil similar to ■which Dr. Nicholson has found in the Llandeilo of Hart Fell, near Moffat. Is it possible from so few facts to form any idea of the probable land-flora of the great Silurian age, and oi its relation to that of the Devonian ? I think it possible at least to arrive at some general notions on the subject, ■which may be reduced to the following statements : 1. It may be noted that no plants other than Lycopodiaceae or alUed forms have been detected below the Lower Devonian. That this may really indicate a greater antiquity of this family than any other is rendered more probable by the fact that Lycopodiaceae increase in relative impor- tance in descending from the Coal-formation to the Lower Carboniferous, and thence into the Devonian and Upper Silurian, where they appear to be left alone. Allowing for any possible amount of imperfection in the record, this can scarcely be an accident. If, however, Eophyton expla- natum should prove to be a land-plank allied to Nematoxylon, it may be possible that prototypal Gymnosperms or Endogens may have extended quite as far back in Geological time. 2. Should it prove certain that Acrogenous plants allied to Lycopodia- ceae, and perhaps such prototypes of Gymnosperms as Eophyton, extended back to the Primordial period, then we might look for the actual origin of land vegetation in the Laurentian. In a paper recently read before the Geological Society,* I directed attention to the fact that in the Lauren- tion of Canada vast quantities of carbon exist in the form of graphite. The aggregate thickness of this matter is probably little inferior to that of coal in the Carboniferous rocks. I also she ed that this graphite in its mode of occurrence resembles that of bitumen and coaly matter in more modern rocks, thatitis associated with organic limestoneand with deposits of iron ore, probably of organic origin, and that under the microscope some portions of it appear to show traces of vegetable fibre. Further, since we have in Rhode Island beds of coal of the true Coal-formation in part converted into graphite, and still retaining traces of organic structure, and since we have in Canada abundance of instances of bituminous schists converted into graphitic schists, there is no improbability in supposing that a similar change may have passed on the carbon of the Laurentian. From these considera- tions I deduced the conclusion that the Laurentian period was probably an a»e of most prolific vegetable growth, and in which greai quantities of carbon were fixed in the rocks of the earth's crust by this agency. Whether the vegetation of the Laurentian was wholly aquatic or in part terrestrial we have no means of knowing, but it is not unreasonable to conjecture that could we find the Laurentian rocks in such condition as to show distinct organic • Journal of G«ol. Soc, Vol. XXYI, p. 112. PRB-CARBONIPEROtIS PLANTS. ^ . 81' forms, we might discover in them the prototypes of genera which ascend into the Devonian.* ' 3. Such views as to a primitive Silurian and Laurentian flora are strengthened by the obvious fact that the plants of the Lower and Middle Devonian have the aspect of the remains of a decaying flora verging on ex- tinction, and pointing backward in Geological time, while those of the Upper Devonian give us a great number of new forms and point onward to the Carboniferous. As already stated the Lower and Middle Erian flora stands by itself in the prevalence of such archaic and prototypal forms as Proto- taxites, Psilophyton, Nematoxylon, and Arthrostigma. Is it probable that it was thus isolated ? Is it not more likely that these plants were the successors of an older and more primitive flora ? This is vividly presented to the mind in the Erian Conifers. In the Lower Sandstones of Gasp^ we find numerous trunks of large trees, all having the structure of Protatazites. In the Hamilton Group of New York and in the sandstones of St. John, these are replaced by Dadoxylon, a type extending into the Carboniferous and thence to the modern Araucarian pines. There is no transition from one typo to the other, nor are they intermixed in the same beds. The Middle Devonian would thus seem to have been the grave of Prototaxites and the birth-place of Dadoxylon, in so far as the regions in question are concerned. Something of the same kind occurs in the Carboniferous, in the scanty and somewhat antique Lower Carboniferous flora pointing backward to the Upper Devonian, just as the Lower Devonian may be supposed to point backward to the Silurian. • Even before the discovery of the first specimens of Eozoon Canadense, and some time before the microscopic investigations of the writer had established the organic character and aflBnities of these fossils, Dr. T. Sterry Hunt had already in the Amer. Jour. Science for May, 1855 (XXV, 436) asserted that " the presence of iron ores, not less than that of gra- phite points to the existence of organic life even during the Laurentian or so-called Azoic period." The same argument is maintained by Dr. Hunt in the Quar. Jour. Geol. Soc. for 1859 (p. 403) and the Ainer. Jour. Science for July, 1860 (XXX, 134) while in the last named Journal for May, 1861 (XXXI, 395) he says: " The great processes of deoxydation in nature are dependant upon organization ; plants by solar force convert water and carbonic acid into hydrocarbonaceous substances, from whence bitumens, coal, anthracite and plumbago; , and it is the action of organic matter which reduces sulphates, giving rise to metallic sul- phurets and sulphur. In like manner it is by the action of dissolved organic matters that oxide of iron is partially reduced and dissolved from great masses of sediment to be subse- i, quontly accumulated in beds of iron ore. We see in the Laurentian series beds and veins of metallic sulphurests, precisely as in more recent formations ; and the extensive beds o iron-ore, hundreds of feet thick, which abound in that ancient system, correspond not only to great volumes of strata deprived of that metal, but, as we may suppose, to organic ""' ' matters, which, but for their oxydation might have formed deposits of mineral carbon far more extensive than those of jilumbago which we actually meet in the Laurentian strata. All these conditions lead us then to conclude the existence of an abundant vege- tation during the Laurentian period. ' [ - . . 82 CANADIAN FOSSILS. The above reasons lead me to anticipate with confi" .,.0 the discovery in the Silurian of a flora similar in type to that of the Lower Devonian, but probably richer in species. 4. Is it possible to indicate where such earlier flora may be expected to occur ? Whatever views wo may adopt as to the origin of species, it is plain that land animals and plants must originate on the land, and marine animals and plants in the waters. Further, in areas liable to oscillations of level, there must be the more .ibrupt and sudden changes, while in (juiot areas such changes may be slow and gradual. A notable example of this is afforded by the area of the Gulf of St. Lawi'ence. Submerged from the eariiest geological times, and unaffected by the great Appalachian dis- turbances, it presents in the Island of Anticosti an imperceptible transi- tion, elsewhere unexampled in Eastern America, from the Lower to the Upper Silurian. Wherever the earliest and most permanent land existed, there would be the earliest and most continuous flora. As the land ex- tended in area the flora would extend and would be augmented. As in any period the oceanic area encroached on the land, the flora would be driven back on its old centres, and might be diminished in amount and variety. Possibly in periods of extensive submergence, it might over vast areas be destroyed altogether, and on subsequent re-emergence might in the first instance be tardily and imperfectly reproduced, or might appear under entirely new forms. Again, a slowly subsiding area Avould be that most favourable for the preservacion of plants as fossils. An area in process of re-elevation, especially if this were rapid, would be unfavourable, and this more particularly if the previous marine condition had been very extensive. In Eastern America, from the Carboniferous period onward, the centre of plant distribution has been the Appalachian chain. From this the plants and sediments extended westward in times of elevation, and to this they receded in times of depression. But this centre was non-existent before the Devonian period, and the centre for this must have been to the North- east whence the great mass of older Appalachian sediment was derived. In I •. • the Carboniferous period there was also an eastward distribution from the Appalachians, and links of connection in the Atlantic bed between the Floras of Europe and America. In the Devonian such connection can have been only far to the north-east. It is therefore in Newfoundland, Labrador, and Greenland that we are to look for the oldest American Flora, and in like manner on the border of the old Scandinavian nucleus for that of Europe. Again, it must have been the wide extension of the sea of the Cornife- ' ; reus limestone, that gave the last blow to the remaining flora of the Lower Devonian : and the re-clcvation in the middle of that epoch brought in the Appalachian ridges as a new centre, and established a connection with PRE-CARBONlFEROUS PLANTS. W Europe which introduced the Upper Devonian and Carboniferous Floras. Lastly, from the comparative richness of the later Erim flora in East- ern America^ especially in the St. John bed^, it might be a fair inference that the North-eastern end of the Appalachian ridge was the original birth- place or centre of creation of what we may call the later Palaeozoic Flora, or of a large part of that flora. Before such probable conclusions as thoso above stated can be accepted as d'3finitely established, there must be an immense amount of labour on the part of collectors and of botanists, and specimens must be brought together to coinparo the plants of the like epoclis in the most distant loca- lities. Further, the facts thus obtained must be put in relation with the geographical and stratigraphical distribution of successive beds, and with the distribution of the contemporary marine faunae. Until this great work shall have been completed, we shall have no sure basis for the knowledge of the laws of inj;roduction and extinction of species, and the Paloeobotanist must be content with the thankless task of collecting facts apparently barren of geological results. (5) Practical Deductions. The value of Palaeontology to the practical man and theoretical geo- logist can scarcely be overrated. A single characteristic fossil is often suflBcient to uutcrmine the geological age of a formation, and the question of geological ago is one that must be ascertained previous to any deductions ■whether as to the mineral contents or conditions of formation of strata. In order to apply this test of ago, it is necessary that the fossils of the different beds shall be accurately studied, described and figured. Hence in all Geological Surveys, large expenditures have been made for this object, and magnificent volumes have been published for the purpose of illustrating the fossils of the several formations, that both the scien- tific and practical man may have ready access to reliable sources of information. The small means at the disposal of the Canadian Survey has hitherto prevented it from going as far in this direction as is desirable, though in so far as the animal fossils of the older rocks are concerned, the publications which have been issued by Mr. Billings, the Palaeontologist of the Survey, have been of the utmost utility, and have largely contributed to raise the scientific reputation of Canada abroad. Fossil plants have hitherto been regarded as of much less importance than fossil animals in determining the ages of rocks, and in some portions of the geological series, where the formations are strictly marine, their value is no doubt quite subordinate. But there are portions of the geolo- gical formations, more especially those related to the great Carboniferous scries, in which their value becomes much greater ; and accordingly in the ""jf J S4 OANADIAH FOSSaS. Geological Surveys of regions in which the Carboniferous system is largely developed, they have commanded more attention than elsowheie. The State Surveys of Pennsylvania and of Illinois deserve especial mention for their attention to the Flora of the Carboniferous rocks. With regard to the special subject of the present Report, its value depends mostly on the utility of comparing the Carboniferous plants with those of older periods. Though many valuable contributions to the Natural History of the plants older than the Carboniferous have been published in the proceed- ings of learned Societies and elsewhere, the present is, I believe, the first Official Report ever published on these ancient forms of vegetable life, and the first attempt to give a complete view of the oldest Flora of any large region of the earth. It is therefore not merely an important con- tribution to Canadian Geology, but as the Devonian Flora has many fea- tures in common over all the world, it will be of service in every country where these rocks occur, and I anticipate that it may aid in the settlement of important geological questions in very distant portions of the world. With reference to the value of the subject in this country, I need only refer to the mistakes which have been made in confounding the Devonian with Carboniferous rooks in the search for coal. I may instance the anti- cipations which were excited as to the discovery of coal at Perry, in Maine, at several places in Gasp6, and in the vicinity of St. John, New Bruns- wick, and which in some of these places led to considerable expenditures of money ; or the disputes as to the Devonian or Carboniferous age of the celebrated deposit of Albertite at Hillsborough, New Brunswick. These and similar difficulties could all have been readily settled by a reference to the evidence of fossil plants ; and with the help of this Report, more especially if it should be followed by similar publications on the plants of the several stages of the Carboniferous, there will be no necessity for such errors in future. Thus an important step will be gained in marking out the limits of the coal-bearing rocks, and in avoiding the errors which may arise from con- founding their characteristic fossils with those of the older strata in which productive coal beds have not yet been found. Further, the comparisons which can now be made between the vegetar- bio inhabitants of the world in two principal ages of its older history, and these ages both very rich in fossil plants, will serve to throw much light on the questions now so much agitated with reference to the introduction and extinction of species in geological time. To enter on such discussions would be out of place here, but I propose elsewhere to take them up some- what fully, using the facts of the present memoir as a basis whereon to rest my conclusions. j: V 1 PRE-CARBONIFBROUS PLANTS. 86 6. — Revised List of the Pre-Garhoniferous Plants of N. E. America, showing their Geological and Geograj>hical Distribution, Upper Silu- rian. i OS Low- er Devu. 1 Middle Duvouian. Upper Devonian. Carbon- iferoui. NAMES OK SPECIES. « M • » 1 s 1 «"* 'A • • • • oi a 'S • • • • • • • • • • at • • • Syrlnjfoxylon mirabilo, DawHon , l-^adoxvlon Ouaiiffundiauum. D» D. iiaiii, un. ._„,:...;;;;. "..: • • • li. Newberry 1, Dn .*. Ornioxyinn Eriaiiiim, Dn • • Prototaxltpg Logani, Dn * N. tenue, Dn Sternlterula .... • • S. vaniixt'inii, (io*»ppert 8. Hinipllcltan, Vanuxeiu • Svrlngddendron graclle, Dn . Hiigmaria exigua, Dn 8. puhilla.Dn 8. pcrlata, Dn • • • • 8. areolata, Dn 8. mlnutixsima, Dn Didymopbyllum renlforme, Dn • Cyperiti*a ap ..... • .... Cafamodoiidron antiquiuBf Dn .... • C. hMiiiistriatum, Dn i Calamitox cannaeformis, Bt C. inornatuH. Dn « « C tranHitionie, Uoept C. gp AsteropliyllitPH parvula, Dn • • • r • A. latlfi)lia, Dn A acicularis, Dn 1 A. lenta, Dn * Sphcnophyllum antiquum, Dn , IMnnularia dispalauB, Da P. Dodooa, Dn LepidodendroD Gasplanum, Dn • • L. Chemunffcnse. Dn L. oorrugMtum, Dn • * • * — I>. primajvum Leptophlouni rliomblcum, Dn • • • • • • IjepidophloioB antiquus • • • • • • • • • Pniloubvton DrIncoDB. Dn • • * * P. -obustlua, Dn r « • Artlirostigma graclle, Dn CycloHtigma dtMiHit'olium, Dn Cordnitcs Robbii, Dn C. augUHtifoUa, Dn • • C. gp C. sp • C flexuo8UB, Dn CycldUtpriR Jncksoiii, Dn • * * • * C. Halliana, Ciooppert C. KogersI, Dn ,, 0. valida, Dn • • • .... C. obtuga, LeRQ C. Bockghit, Goeppert C. varia, Dn • * • # C, problematloa, Dn , Neuropterig pulymorpha, Dn M.gerrulata, Dn •••»»• t InoludlDg Ohio, Fenngylrania and Ontario. 86 CANADIAN FOSSILS. Revised List — (^ContinuedJ) Upper hlfii- rlan. Low- er Duvn. Middle Devonian. Ujiper Dovouian. Carbon- Ift^ruUH. NAMES OF 81'ECIES. ! t I.... O ■A .if » i. h 'A o o .■4 « 1 •a u Ncuroptcrl8 8elwyiii,Dn N. CraxHa, Un N. roi^ccta, 1)» 1 1 1 8|>lu'iio|)ti>riK iliivninglinuiil, Ilroiig (•••• S llnrctil, 1)11 8. llitclicockinua, Du 1.... 1 .... 8. rociirva, On S. HpUmiieiiH, Dn * ' Jl su'ifuruiitii!", Un H. Odrsdiirllll, (jouppt .... H obtUHildbiiH, (joeppt 11. Hildretl. Leaq Aletboptorii* (liHcropans, Dn 1. . , , A. In"*»nH, Dn A. roilevl. Ifixrtt I'ecoptprlB acrrulata, Dn 1*. ob'cura, Dn P prt'ciosa, Hartt 1'. deiislfolia, Dn CaulopU'riB LooKwoodl, Dn .... • • • • • " anti(|un, Newberry • • • . ... .... Protoptprls percKrina, Ny. sp Kliacliiopterlx iiinnata, Dn R. cycloptpromes, Dn R. punctata, Dn .... • • * • .... .... It. striata, Dn U. teniiistritita. Dn It tfifftintea, Dn R, sp INaronUiH Krianu«,Dn P. tpxtilis, Dn. Oardiocarpum cnrnutum, Dn C. Hailcyi, llartt * « • • • • • C. Crampii, llartl C ovale, Dn C. obU(iuum Dn TrlKoiiiicarpum racemosum, Dn T. i)eiaiitii|Uiim,DM Carpolitliert Hiliqua, Dn C. spicatuH, Da • C luiiatuM, Dn C. conipactus, Dn • • • A. Horldus, Dn • Sporangltos acuminata, Dn ■ ',: , 1 m ^ '-'i i^' Fig. 1. 2. 3. 4. 6 6. 7. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. Fig. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. PRE-CARBONIFEROUS PLANTS. EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. Plate i. Dadoxylon and Ormoiylon. Dadoxylon Ouangondiunum, — Tran.fversc section of a calcified specimen, showing rings of grow'tli and radiating structure, natural si/.o. Longitudinal section, radial, showing discigcrous wood-cells, and medullary rays, 100 diams. Longitudinal section, tangeutial, showing wood-cells and medullary rays. Portion of wood-cell, showing hexagonal areolation and pores, 3 diameters. Dadoxylon 77ai//,— Longitudinal section, showing wood-cells, (discigerous), and medullary ray. Portion of wood-cell showing areolation and pores, 300 diameters. Dadoxylon Newhcrryi, — Longitudinal section, radial, showing discigerous wood- cells and medullary ray. Longitudinal section, tangential, showing wood-cells and medullary rays, 100 dinmetera. Portion of wood-cell showing areolation and pores, 100 diametcfS. Ormoxylon Erianum, — Carbonized stem with casts of pith cavities (a, a) natura size. Wood-cell showing areolation and medullary ray, 100 diameters. Portion of wood-cell, showing areolation and pores, iiOO diameters. Portion of wall of cell showing one areole and pore, 000 diameters. Restored stem — (a) pith cavities, (b) cellular piih, (c) wood. Longitudinal section of Sternbergia pith of Dadoxylon Ouungondianum showing a tendency to division into lenticular spaces, similar to those of Ormoxylon. The dark lines represent the phragmata coal escing toMirds the centre. Twice natural size. 15a one of the phrag- mata of ( lis Sternbergia showing the vacant space in the centre. Longitudinal section of pith of the modern Cecropia peltata, showing partitions and spaces (a, a). Natural size. Longitudinal section of Sternbergia pith of Dadoxylon materiarium from the coal formation, showing the arrangement of the phragmata, natural size. Plate ii. Prototiuites. Prototaxites Logani, — Fragment 19 inches in length from a large trunk ; inner side showing rings of growth ; surfaces at a, n, edges at b. Fragment from a trunk 3 ft. in diameter, and showing the outer surface, with transverse ribs and marks of insertion of branches at a, a. Actual width of the fragment 2 feet. Transverse section showing the wood-cells, and a medullary ray at (a, a). 100 diameters. Transverse section, showing wood-cells, medullary ray (a, a) and ring of growth (b). 100 diameters. Longitudinal section, showing the extremity of a medullary ray — tangential section, 100 diameters. Transverse section, the wood-ceils seen imperfectly at a, a, but for the most part obscured by concretionary structure. Longitudinal section, showing wood cells, 100 diameters. Transvenie section, sliowing medullary rays at a, a, and Ime of growth at b, b, 20 diameters. 88 CANADIAN FOSSILS. |. Fig. 36. Prolotaxitet Logani,— Three wood-oella, showing ipiral fibres and obaciiro pores at a, a, 300 diameters. 27. Transverse section of {wrtion of root, 100 diameters. Platb III. SUrnbergia, Stigmaria, Didymophyllum, Cyimritcs, Calamodendrmi, Pig. 28. Stcmbtrgia /'«M,— probably of Dailoxylon, from Lepreau, nat. si/e. 29. From St. John, showing indications of tlie wood at the sidBs, (a, a).^ 30. Stigmaria exigua, — Specimen from Elniira, N.Y., half nut. size ; 30a, areole enlarged. SI. Stigmaria ptuiUa, — Si>eclmen from Perry, Maine, nat. size. 32. Stigmaria j^Wa^f,— Specimen from St. John, shewing remains of rootlets at a, a, 32a, one of the areoles. 33 Stigmaria areoUtlii, — Specimen from Oasp6. 34. Stigmaria minutisiima, — Specimen from Ga8p6 ; 34a, areole enlarged. 36. Didymophyllum ^l!ni^/m«,— Specimen from N. York ; 35a. areole enlarged. 36 and 37. Cyperitei, — (leaves of Sigillai la) St. John. 38. Cyperitet, — Perry, Maine. 30. Calamodendron antiquius, — Specimen from Lepreau, showing remains of woody cylinder at a, a. 40. Calamodendron tenuittriatum, — Specimen from Lepreau. Platb iv. Calamitei, \ Fig. 41. Calamitei tramitionis, — Flattened stem ; 4 la, areole of the same. 42. Branch with leaves; 42u, leaf restored; 42b, leaf magnified, showing transverse niarlNTS. 10 Fig, 70. Atnivliiriii l4uii,— ^]tih with radiutlng rnolf ; 7Ur, a(i|iearaiioe uf llieie od verticwl I'dgO ofHiltl). 71. Irregular root* fVom iintlurcliiy. ,73. Itttiliating roots or f'ronil. 72 a. Anotlior «ije<:hiicii. (.>. »igr-liki- body on Biinio alnbg with .1. liira; 7:Ia, the Rnme eiilargrd. i r l'l.AT« vil. I'innuhriti, ,fc Fig. 74. J'inniililna i/(>/«//««», — a, A, areoli h. 7ft. Kriigmcnt whowing axi» and raniiflcation enlargud. 7i!. ■ ' FriiKinciit ciiluri^i'd, nhowiiig areole. 77. J'inniitiiriii elomjaltt. , "H. J'iiiMiiliiria noilimii, — 7Ha, portion showing nodoHe margin. 7!>. J'fi/u/ilii/loii yliihrii'ii, — Showing internal axi.' ; H!»u. portion enlarged. ¥0. Similar liniiich of /'. rohiinthiii. HO a. I'ltiolc of Fern. XI. I.i/rnfioililin Itirliiirilfoni, — a, eone; I), leafy Hiein. i' I'l.ATK VIII. I.eiiidudenilron, J(e. Fig. X2. /jt/ioliiilniiliiin (iai>/ii(niHm, — decortleated branch. 8:i. Itruiicli with leaves; n:ia, areolex enlarged. H4. liranch with fructiliuntion. t'4 ii. /.r/iiiloileii(lron C/irinuni/friKi; reduced. Htt. J.yco/iotlilfii Malt/ieiri, — Hi'ia, leaf enlarged. (ill. Stem with leaf sears enlarged. H7. showing ramilieatioii. 88. J^fitop/ili'iwt r/iomliKuiii, — Impression of a stem, showing areoles. H». — -^ Flattened stem, showing iircoles and leaf scara below, and Ktf rnbergia strnetiire above, Hi'a, areole and scar. })0. /,r/iiihjihli)io> iiiili(juii.y, — Stem or branch showing scars; 90 a. b, leaf of this or a t^imilar s]iccies. !i|. Portion of the same fri.m a iilioti.gropb ; yi a, b, areoles enlarged. 92. Vyclotiiyma deimifolinm, — Stem natural size. »3 to t)f>, — I'ortioiiB of stem showing remains of leaves and scar of branch or cone at a. JH). .^reides in various conditions. Fig. 5.7, a9. 100. 101. 102, 104. 105, 106. 107. 108. 10», 110. I'latb IX. I'tilophf/ton prineep*. >8 J'tilojiht/lun prinef/>s, var urnatiim, leafy stems. Larger stems. Smaller branches. Circinate tennination. — Branches with fructification. — Stem with leaves enlarged ; 104a, leaf enlarged. — Fructification. — Spore-cases enlarged, showing slit. — Spore-cases further enlarged, showing slit at a. — Smaller branches, enlarged. loa. Platb X. Psilojphyton. Fig. 111. Slab with rhizomata of P»ilophyton prineepi from an underclay, («. a,) areolea. 112 to 114. Circinate terminations of young branches of P«/<>pAy• iM 11111= ||M I™ 1.6 1.4 Ta e /a m / e^ V Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MS80 (716) 873-4503 ^^ &. .

^. Is 6^ - ..i. ' L.iiJ,-:- . ;» 99 Fig. 118 119 120 121 122 123 ■' 124 1. I2ii CANADIAN FOSSILS. Piilophyton princepi, decorticated branch with fruit. Fragments of branchlets. — Portion of rhizoma giving off stems. Pdlophyton robmtius, — Fragment with Fruit. Branchlets of Piilophyton elegant. Portion of a branch of the same enlarged. * and,12.'>. Carpolites? from Devonian Gaspc. Carpolite or concretion do do. ■ I-";-! I'LATK XI. I'silophylOH, ^r. Fig. 127. Psilophyioii /»;•(««/«,— Restored section of magnified stem, .ihowing, (a) scalar!- .,. , .T'* ''"'■™ *'''8) C') woody cylinder, (c) cellular cylinder, (d) outer, Sbrous cylinder. — ^ Scalariform vesseband woody fibres, 120diameters ; 128a woody fibre* ;iOO diams ; 128b scalariform vessels, 300 diams ; 128c cellular mat- ter, 300 diams. Leaf magnified showing sirim; 129a, portion more magnified, showing CL'llular structure and stoma. Puilophyton ro6M9^M«,— Scalariform tissue, 100 diameters; 1 308, portion mora magnified. Transverse section magnified, showing scalariform axis and bark. Portion of the same more magnified. Psilophylon princepx,—mi\MxaeL, transverse sections showing axis, nat. size. The same magnified; 134a, scalariform tissue; 1 34b, woody fibres ; 134c bark fibres, 100 diams. Nematoxylon <««««,— Cross section of stem natural size, slwwing coaly bark and wood. Longitudinal section, 100 diams ; (a) transverse section 100 diams (b, c,) cells more magnified. NeiiKUoxi/loH cra*«ttm,— Longitudinal section, 100 diams ; (a) transverse sectioa 100 diams ; (b) single cell more magnified. 128. 129. 130. 131. 132. 133. 134. 135, i;^6. 137, Vig. Fig. 138. 139. 140. 141. 142 145. 146. 147. 148 151 153. 154. 156. 156. 157. 158. 159 ■'thf-^i Pl-ATK XII. Psilophyton rohimlitii. Pnlophylon rohuMiiin, — Stems and fructification. Branch and fructification. :ii. .;.;,? <••■ i^;,'; Mass of spore cases. ■ ;^ Spore cases in different aspects. '■ "' • ' to 144. — - Surface cf stem enlarged. ' Portion of stem showing impression of the axis. '■■•'' >■ • Platk XIII. Artkroitligma gracil-e. Arlhrostignui yracile, — Leafy stems flattened ; I46a, leaves enlarged. Stem giving off lateral branches. to 150. — • Fragments of stems showing leaves, areolcs (a) and internal axis (b). and 152 — Erect stems with leaves, 157a, areoles enlarged. Section of erect stems with leaves. Fructification, supposed to be of this species. Stem partially restored. PiiATB XIV. Vordaites, J^c. Vordaites Robbii, — Part of a large leaf; 156a, venation enlarged. Point of a leaf, crushed. Point of a leaf. and IflO. — Clasping bases of leaves. PRE-CARBONIFEROUS PLANTS. 91 T\g. ICl. Cordailen Robhii,—VaTt of a leaf with shellg of Rpirorbis ; 161a aad b, shelU enlarged. 162. Cordaites Robbii, — Leaf folded and crunhcd. 163. Cordaitei augmtifolia, — Leaves in shale, lG3a, portion enlarged; 163b, bases of leaves attached to stenj; 166c, leaf showing venation. * 164. Broad variety or species ; 164a, portion enlarged showing venatioa. 165. Corrfa ;<««,— lG5a, portion enlarged, showing venation. 166. Cylindrical roots of Psilophyton, passing hori/ontally through a bed 166a. Cylindrical roots passing vertically. Pl/ATg XV. Cyclopteris, ife. Fig. 167. Ci/clopterix {ArehvopterU) Jaeksoni, — 167a, terminal pinnule showing venatioa. 167b, lateral pinnules. Perry, Maine. 168. Pinna- of the same, Gaspe. j^.. . , 169. Pinnae of the same, Montrose, Pennsylvania. ,, .^ 170. Pinnule ^rcA*op. 186. Sphenoptrris tplendens ; 186a, portion enlarged. 187. Cyclopterii (AneimilM) Boc/cshii; 187a, pinnule, showing veins. 188. Vyclopteri» (Aneimiteg) obtu*a; 188a, pinnule, showing reina. 189. Calliplerii pilosa; 189a, Pinna enlarged, showing hairy surface; 189b, fertile pinna enlarged; 189c, pinnule showing venation, enlarged ; 1891 fertile pinnule enlarged. 190. Cyclopteris (Aneimileii) valida, pinnule nat. size. (See Acad. Geol. Fig. 192.) Plate xvii. A'europterit, ^r. 191. Seuropt^ri* (Megalopteris) Dawioni,—\0\a,yenAt\oa. 192. Portion of a large pinnule split at the margin. 193. Portion of a pinnule, apex. 194. Two small pinnules. 195 and 196. I'ecopterit denaifolia ; 196a, pinnule enlarged. 197. Neuropteris relorquata; 197a, pinnule enlarged. 198. Nenropterit Sehoyni ; 198a, pinnule showing veinB. 199. Neuropteris ; 199a, pinnule showing veins. 200. Nenropterit eratia ; 200a, venation. 201 and 202. Cyclopterii (Neuropterit) varia, 202a, venation. PliATB xvill. Neuropteri* and AUtlmplMi. Pig. 203. Alethopterit discrepant,— liroAi variety. Fig. -4 1. fc'. 02 CANADIAN FOSSILS. ; Fig. 204. AUlhoplerii (/iscrrp«;u— Narrow variety ; 204a to c. venatiou. 20,5. Small lateral pinna. UC>. Aletho/tleris im/eiis, — Venation, natural size. 207 &nii 'lOH. J'ecopterisseiru/ata, — 208a, b, venation. 209. Large specimen. * 210. J^ecopteris preciosa, — Small varioly. 211. Large variety, 211a, pinnule eiilargeil. 212. Nexiropteria pohjmorfihii. — 212a, pinnule sliowlng venation. 2i;!. Neuroplerif nfrriilnln, — Pinnule showing venation, enlarged. I'l.ATK \ix. Fri/i(.i, i}c. Fig. 214 to 215. ('iiriliocar/miii cnrnti/um, — Different sizes ami states of preservation. 21t>. Specimen enlarged, showing corrugated nuclens and tegmen. 217. Specimen enlarged, showing indications of cotyledons. 21H. Specimen enlarged, showing thickened testa and foramen at a; 2lHb,, specimen enlarged showing foramen in usual state of jireservation 219. Cartliocarpum liaileyi. 220. to 221. Cardiocarpum Crampii. 222. Enlarged, showing nucleus and outer coiit with fonimen. 223. Carditirarpum ovah. 224. Knlarged, showing nucleus and outer coat. 225. Cardiocarpum ohiiquum. 226. Specimen enlarged. 227. Triijonuairjmiii raremositm, — Nucleus, nat. size and enlarged ; 227a, same on peduncle. 228. Trigonncarpum pcranti(juum,—0\iicT coat; 228a, nuclens, deprived of coat. 229. Carfiolit/ies compaclus. 230 and 231. Fruits or bracts of uncertain nature. 232. Sporangia of Psilophi/ton? (Sporanyites accuminala.) 233 and 234. The same enlarged. 235. Antholithef Bevonicus ; 23.')a, terminal portion; 23rib, c, lortions enlarged. 236. Antholithe» floridus ; 236a, portion enlarged. Platk XX. Upjier Silurian I'lanh. Fig. 237 and 238. Fragments of Fucoids. 239. Stem with woody axis. 240 to 241. Rhizomata of Psilophyt n, showing areoles and rameutii. 242. Sections of a specimen, showing the axis ; 242.1, b, Scalariform tissue of .the same. 243 to 245. Fragments of stem? of Pgilophylon robusUm. ' -j^ ' ii'iii^M^itriiiii 'f SUPPLEMENTARY SECTION" ON THE BEARING OP DEVONIAN BOTANY OX QUESTIONS AS TO THE ORIGIN AND EXTINCTION OF SPECIES. [The theoretical views contained in this section, though necessary to give completeness to the subject, are not suitable for an ofiScial report, and are, therefore, f 'nted separately by the author, for circulation to those who may be interested in them as matters of science.] Fossil plants are aimost proverbially uncertain ■with reference to their accurate determination, and have been regarded as of comparatively little utility in the decision of general questions of palaeontology. This results principally from the fragmentary condition in which they have been studied, and from the fact that fragments of animal structures are more definite and instructive than corresponding portions of plants. It is to be observed, however, that our knowledge of fossil plants becomes accurate in proportion to the extent to which we can carry the study of specimens in the beds in which they are preserved, so as to examine more perfect examples than those usually to be found in museums. When structures are taken into the account, as well as external forms, we can also depend more confidently on our results. Farther, the abundance of specimens to be obtained in particular beds often goes far to make up for their individual imperfection. The writer of these pages has been enabled to avail himself very fully of these advantages ; and on this account, if on no other, feels entitled to speak with some authority on theoretical questions. It is an additional encouragement to pursue the subject that, when we can obtain definite information as to the successive floras of any region, we thereby learn much as to climate, and vicissitudes in regard to the extent of land and water ; and that, with reference to such points, the evidence of fossil plants, when properly studied, is, from the close relation of plants to- thoM-8tatk»i8 aad climates, even more valuable than that of animal fossils.- ■^■r*. ■n' ..•#. "W^^W^^ 2 SUPPLEMENTARY SECTION. It is necessary, however, that in pursuing such enquiries we should have some definite views as to the nature and permanence of specific forms, whether with reference to a single geological period, or to successive periods ; and I may be excused for stating here some general principles, which I think important for our guidance, with special reference to the palaeozoic floras which form the subject of this memoir, (1.) Botanists proceed on the assumption, vindicated by experience, that, within the period of human observation, species have not materially varied or passed into each other. We may make, for practical purposes, the same assumption with regard to any given geological period, and may hold that for each such period there are specific types, which, for the time at least, are invariable. (2.) When we inquire what constitutes a good species for any given period, we have reason to believe that many names in our lists represent merely varietal forms or erroneous determinations. This is the case even in the modern flora ; and in fossil floras, through the poverty of specimens, their fragmentary condition and various states of preservation, it is still more likely to occur. Every revision of any group of fossils detects numerous synonyms, and of these many are incapable of detection without the comparison of large suites of specimens. (3.) We may select from the flora of any geological period certain forms, which I shall call specific types, which may for such period be regarded as unchanging. Having settled such types, wo may compare them with similar forms in other periods, and such comparisons will not be vitiated by the uncertainty which arises from the comparison of so-called species which may, in many cases, be mere varietal forms, as distinguished from specific types. Our types may be founded on mere fragments, pro- vided that these are of such a nature as to prove that they belong to dis- tinct forms which cannot pass into each other, at least withia the limits of one geelogical period. (4.) When we compare the specific types of one period with those of another immediately precedent or subsequent, we shall find that some con- tinue unchanged through long intervals of geological time, that others are represented by allied forms regarded either as varietal or specific, and as derived or otherwise, according to the view which we may entertain as to the permanence of species. On the other hand, we also find new types not rationally deducible on any theory of derivation from those known in other periods. Farther, in comparing the types of a poor period with those of one rich in species we may account for the appearance of new types in the latter by the deficiency of information as to the former ; where many « '• » \ Hm^ SUPPLEMENTARY SECTION. 8 new types appear in the poorer period this conclusion seems less probable. For example, new types appearing in poor formations, like the Lower Erian and Lower Carboniferous, have greater significance than if they appeared in the Middle Erian or in the Coal Measures. (5.) When specific types disappear without any known successors, under circumstances in which it seems unlikely that we should have failed to discover their continuance, we may fairly assume that they have become extinct, at least locally ; and Avhere the field of observation is very exten- sive, as in the great coal fields of Europe and America, we may esteem BucY extinction as practically general, at least for the northern hemisphere. When many specific types become extinct together, or in close succession, we may suppose that such extinction resulted from physical changes ; but where single types disappear, under circumstances in which others of similar habit continue, we may not unreasonably conjecture that, as Pictet has argued in the case of animals, such types may have been in their own nature limited in duration, and may have died out without any external cause. (6.) With regard to the introduction of specific types we have not as yet a suflScient amount of information. Even if we freely admit that ordi- nary specific forms, as well as more varieties, may result from derivation, this by no means excludes the idea of primitive specific types originating in some other way. Just as the chemist, after analyzing all compounds and ascertaining all allotropic forms, arrives at length at certain elements not mutually transmutable or derivable, so the botanist and zoologist must expect sooner or later to arrive at elementary specific types, which, if to be accounted for at all, must be explained on some principle distinct from that of derivation. The position of many modern biologists, in presence of this question, may be logically the same with that of the ancient alchemists with reference to the chemical elements, though the fallacy in the case of fossils may be of more difficult detection. Our business at present, in the prosecution of palaeobotany, is to discover, if possible, what are elementary or original types, and, having found these, to enquire as to the law of their creation. (7.) In prosecuting such questions geographical relations must be care- fully considered. When the floras of two successive periods have existed in the same region, and under circumstances that render it probable that plants have continued to grow on the same or adjoining areas throughout these periods, the comparison becomes direct, and this is the case with the Erian and Carboniferous floras in North-Eastern America. But when the areas of the two formations are widely separated in space, as well as in SUPPLEMENTARY SECTION. % time, any resemblances of facies that we may observe may have no con- nection whatever vrith an unbroken continuity of specific types. I desire, however, under this head, to affirm my conviction that, with reference to the Erian and Carbonifei-ous floras of North America and of Europe, the doctrine of " homotaxis," as distinct from actual contem- poraneity, has no place. The succession of formations in the Palaeozoic period evidence? a similar series of physical phenomena on the grandest scale throughout the northern hemisphere. The succession of marine animals implies the continuity of the sea-bottoms on which they lived. The head-quarters of the Erian flora in America and Europe must have been in connected or adjoining areas in the North Atlantic. The similarity of the Carboniferous flora on the two sides of the Atlantic, and the great number of identical species, proves a still closer connection in that period. These coincidences are too extensive and too frequently repeated to be the result of any accident of similar sequence at diffcent times, and this more especially as they extend to the more minute differences in the features of each period, as, for instance, the floras of the Lower and Upper Devonian, and of the Lower, Middle, and Upper Carboniferous. Another geographical question is that which relates to centres of dis- persion. Li times of slow subsidence of extensive areas, the plants inhabit- ing such areas must be narrowed in their range and often separated from each other in detached spots, v/hile, at the same time, important climatal changes must also occur. On the re- emergence of the land such of these species as remained would again extend themselves over their former areas of distribution, in so far as the new climatal and other conditions would permit. We would naturally suppose that the first of the above processes would tend to the elimination of varieties, the second, to their increase ; but, on the other hand, the breaking up of a continental flora into that of distinct islets, and the crowding together of many forms, might be a pro- cess fertile in the production of some varieties if fatal to others. Farther, it is possible that these changes of subsidence may have some connection with the introduction, as well as with the , extinction, even of specific types. It is certain, at least, in the case of land plants, that such types come in most abundantly immediately after elevation, though they are most abundantly preserved in periods of slow subsidence. I do not mean, however, that this connection is one of cause and effect ; there are, indeed, indications that it is not so. One of these is, that m some cases the enlargement of the area of the land seems to be as injarious to ter- restrial species as its diminution. Applying the above considerations to the Erian and Carboniferouf tm^ .l;;,.:- ...■■ -Jh ,.. ^^9f9fmi} J I I SUFPLEMENTART SECTION. 5 floras of North America, we obtain some data which may guide us in arriving at general conclusions. The Erian flora is comparatively poor, and its types are in the main similar to those of the Carboniferous. Of those types a few only re-appear in the Middle Coal formation under identical forms ; a great number appear under allied forms ; some altogether disap- pear. The Erian flora of New Brunswick and Maine occurs side by side with the Carboniferous of the same region ; so does the Erian of New York and Pennsylvania with the Carboniferous of those states. Thus we have data for the comparison of successive floras in the same region. In the Canadian region wo have, indeed, in direct sequence, the floras of the Upper Silurian, the Lower, Middle, and Upper Erian, and the Lower, Middle," and Upper Carboniferous, all more or less distinct from each other, and affording an admirable series for comparison in a region whose geo- graphical features are very broadly marked. All these floras are composed in great part of similar types, and probably do not indicate very dissimilar general physical conditions, but they are separated from each other by the great subsidences of the Corniferous limestone and the Lower Carbon- iferous limestone, and by the local but intense subterranean action which has altered and disturbed the Erian beds towards the close of that period. Still, none of these changes was universal. The Corniferous limestone is absent in Gasp^, and probably in New Brunswick, where, consequently, the Elian flora could continue undisturbed during that long period. The Carboniferous limestone is absent from the slopes of the Appalachians in Pennsylvania, Tvhere a retreat may have been afforded to the Upper Erian and Lower Carboniferous floras. The disturbances pt the close of the Erian were limited to those eastern regions where the great limestone- producing subsidences were unfelt, and, on the other hand, are absent in Ohio, where the subsidences and raarine conditions were almost at a maxi- mum. Bearing in mind these peculiarities of the area in question, we may now group in a tabular form the distinct specific types recognized in the Erian system, indicating, at the same time, those which are represented by identical species in the Carboniferous, those represented by similar species of the same general type, and those not represented at all. For example, Calamites canncefurmis extends as a species into the Carboniferous ; Aster ophyllites latifolia does not so extend, but is represented by closely allied species of the same type ; Prototaxites disappears altogether before we reach the- Carboniferous, i '•■:•;■ m^' T-t'TT^^; # 8 SUPPLEMENTARY SECTION. TABLE OF BRIAN AND CARBONIFEROUS SPECIFIC TYPES. Erian Types. Koprpscnted in Carbonlferoiw— Erlan Typon. Ueproaentod In Carboniferoiia— ^ m fl! » a. ? r^f 1 Syringo.xylon niiriibile Neniiiiox\'lon * • * • • • • • • • 27. 28. 29. ::I0. 31 32. 33. .34. .35. 3ii. 37 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 4G. 47. 48. 49. .50. 51. Cordaitea Kobhii , « • V Vi. aucriifitifolia ■ ■1 Cyclopteris (Archii'opteris).. (J ^Anoimiten) ^ Anoroxvlon * r, C. Browiiii (' varia H D;idoxvIo'i • 7 Nciiropteris pulymorpha • 8 S palpebra • 9 Didviuopliylluin N. Davaonii 10 Cahmiodt'iidron « 11. 12 Vj cflnnipforniis Splienopteris HoRniughausi... y. llarttii n Astcro])hvllite3 scutigeru A Uitifi)liiL • Id ITymenophyllites curtilobus.. }l. obtusilobus l*) Aniiularia laxa « 16. 17 Sphcnoiiliylltim ontiquum (^vclo-tiirnia Alelliopti'ris diacrepans Peconteria scrruliita • « IB "Vrthro^tiffma P, preciosa Trichomanites 19. 20 Lepidodendron Gaspianum... • « ''I Lycopodites Malihewi Psaronius « 22 • •'? Ti VRniixptnii 0. Cram nil 24 Lepidopliloios antiquus « 2'i • 26. P. robustius Of the above forms, fifty-one in all, found in the Erian of Eastern America, all, except the four last, are certainly distinct specific types. Of these only four reappear in the Carboniferous under identical species, but no less than twenty-six reappear under representative or allied forms, somo at least of which a derivationist might claim as modified descendants. On the other hand nearly one half of the Devonian types are unknown in the Carboniferous, while there remain a very large number of Car- boniferous types not accounted for by anything known in the Devonian. Farther, a very poor flora, including only two or three types, is the prede- cessor of the Erian flora in the Upper Silurian, and the flora again becomes poor in the Upper Devonian and Lower Carboniferous. Every new species discovered must more or less modify the above statements, and the whole Erian flora of America, as well as the Carboniferous, requires a thorough comparison with that of Europe before general conclusions can be safely drawn. In the meantime I may indicate the direction in which the facts seem to point, by the following general statements : — 1. Some of the forms reckoned as specific in the Devonian and Car- boniferous r.^ay be really derivative races. There are indications that such races may have originated in one or more of the following ways : — (1) By a natural tendency in synthetic types to become specialized in the direction I J ^ SUPPLEMENTARY SECTION. 7 of one or other of their constituent elements. In this way such plants as Arthrostigma and Fsilophyton may have assumed new varietal forms, (2) By embryonic retardation or acceleration,* whereby certain species may have had their maturity advanced or postponed, thus giving them various grades of perfection in reproduction and complexity of structure. The fact that so many Brian and Carboniferous plants seem to be on the confines of the groups of Acrogcns and Gymnosperms may bo supposed favourable to such exchanges. (3) The contraction and breaking up of floras, as occurred in the Middle Erian and Lower Carboniferous, may have been eminently favourable to the production of such varietal forms as would result from what has been called the " struggle for exist- ence," (4) The elevation of a great expanse of new land at the close of the Middle Erian and the beginning of the Coal period, would, by per- mitting the extension of species over wide areas and fertile soils, and by removing the pressure previously existing, bo eminently favourable to the production of new, and especially of improved, varieties. 2. Whatever importance we may attach to the above supposed causes of chaise, we still require cu account for the origin of our specific types. This may forever elude our observation, but we may at least hope to ascer- tain the external conditions favourable to their production. In order to attain even to this it will be necessary to inquire critically, with reference to every acknowledged species, what its claims to distinctness are, so that we may be enabled to distinguish specific types from mere varieties. Having attained to some certainty in this, we may be prepared to inquire whether the conditions favourable to the appearance of new varieties were also those favourable to the creation of new types, or the reverse — whether these conditions were those of compression or expansion, or to what extent the appearance of new types may be independent of any external condi- tions, other than those absolutely necessary for their existence, I am not without hope that the further study of fossil plants may enable us thus to approach to a comprehension of the laws of the creation, as distinguished from those of the continued existence of species. In the present state of our knowledge we have no good ground either to limit the number of specific types beyond what a fair study of our mate- rial may warrant, or to infer that such primitive types must necessarily have been of low grade, or that progress in varietal forms has always been upward. The occurrence of such an advanced and specialized type as that of Syringoxylon, in the Middle Devonian, should guard us against these errors. The creative process may have been applicable to the highest as well as to the lowest forms, and subsequent deviations must havQ included • In the manner illustrated by Hyatt and Cope. ,1t ■# 1. WPI* (iPH"««wwjf;in,ai,ll^jini piitjf". V • L 1: I' 1 SUPPLEMENTARY' SECTION. degradation as well as elevation. I can conceive nothing more unreason* able than the statement sometimes made that it is illogical or even absurd to suppose that highly organized beings could have been produced except by derivation from previously existing organisms. This is begging the whole question at issue, depriving science of a noble department of inquiry on which it has as yet barely entered, and anticipating by unwarranted assertions conclusions which may perhaps suddenly dawn upon us through the inspiration of some groat intellect, or may for generations to come baffle the united exertions of all the earnest promoters of natural sc'enoe. Our present attitude should not be that of dogmatists, but that of patient workers content to labour for a harvest of grand generalizations which may not come till we have passed away, but which, if we are earnest and true to nature and its Creator, may reward even some of ua. ■*' ■ fm. #■ Geological Survej of Canada ... A, 4 /,1 a Mi^^ ^ ' j.W jj del^ LibbdU It bV. ijitii. Uontra&l. DADOXYLOl^, ORMOXYLON. .^■■...■.. ....l.-R m Geoloqical Survoy of Canada '.W a J Wii del" jKOGO* C Luh. KoxitnA. PROTOTAXITES • ; t" ,• I (nH)Io(:|ical vSurvev of Canada m. (LuD. dei' caiamodendron,st: LtGOO i.C Lith Montreal. BERGIA, STMARIA.DIDllIOPHYLLUM, GYFERITES. J Geological Survey of Canada IV. J.W.H del' uEGGO ft C Jiitii..Moniie8; CALAMITES • I. •r I I 'wm Iiimi|iil;m ,il Siirvrv ul' ( ,iii,nl, ■'ji' > y^idh. Motitudl ASTE-ROPHYLLlTES^ra SPHENOPHYLLUM, !■! 1 I \l\- UcdliiyH .il Siirvcv (tl I .iiiiiila 1, b ^lol LF.GGO* C"LitkTilonireal ANNULARTA , i\ r rt-anaMBMBSS. ltroliii.'M ,il Siirvcv of (',111,1(1,1 ,\LD '1el' ljE0ljO<^ <:° lu'h MortreJ LEPEODENDRON. LYCOPODITES^&C. II f f iii i : ' I I I r ! 'i!l i ii! i ii 1 ll '■■' 1 1 [Ij^^ licoloiiical Kiirvi'v "f Canada ''■ '' '■ 'i-i'i . ViOTitrual PSILOPHYTON PEINOEPS. ^ .■ lir : (icdloiiical Survey of Canada XI fV/.O SaP' LKGCrOA C° Lill' M')Ti PSILOPHYTON AND NEMTOXILON, „ ' i' .....^ (M'olniiu'.il "siii'vcv 111' raiia(l;i LEaGOd^n^Uh Montreal PSILOPHYTON ROBUSTIUS \ ' «iiJfcatiit ^ i ii« i l) ihW » ' » ^»«J*^-»V'<*> *»>■",-. ■• ■ •— - - .-.^ . . . iVoloL'H .t! Survcv n|' r.ili.iil.i xm ■y.ii.i^-tv^ne!^ Jol^ LEGGO I 1^' Lift. "K..iitr..u ARTHROSTIGMA. I Ml I iMrtiiBMilMllJiiii mrri ' .-■ ;?ri-— r^-^^^^rat* I ; I ■ I ,ni|n:'ll,tl !.;i!'VI'V 111 ( .ifMil.l XIV A I D iel- i-:»'. :»; •..•]■ '■ ■ COHDAITES&C : Ui'dlii^'icil Nurvi'v III C.iii.kI. /l Ij J) del' IiKUbl' i. 'C' iiitJiUcntroai CYCLOPTERIS>C. A LI) del! LEG60 .\ C' Lith Montreal SPHE}^OPTERIS,&C. ' I 'ii}iRTiiltf'iif>tffr''f'i-iit*^"-'- '"'■i«1iiitiiiiiiiiiii« -"I (Jcoloqicil Survi'v ">'' I .mail. » XX I A-L Li. i.;!'^ LEGCO A OS litli ¥o.nn-«al UPPER SILURIAN "PLANTS