Page:The Geologist, volume 5.djvu/91

Rh posits from the Old Red "cornstone," upwards, was shown by them to be:—1. Laminated yellow sandstones, with pebble-beds and sands. 2. Bright-yellow sandstones, containing Pterichthys. 3. Brecciated yellow sandstones, pebble-beds, sandy layers, and laminated sandstones. 4. Sandy and concretionary limestone. 5. Grey oolitic limestones, containng palatal teeth of great size. 6. Clays, with ferruginous bands. 7. Shaly crinoidal limestones. 8. Clays with limestone concretions, and shaly limestones. Against the last-mentioned bed the Millstone Grit rests unconformably. These beds thicken out at Oreton, a mile east of this Farlow section, and are there extensively worked for various economic purposes, the oolitic limestones, locally termed "jumbles," being used for decorative purposes under the name of Clee Hill Marble. In describing the physical conditions of the localities, mention was made of the "Mole river," which, losing itself at the west end of the ridge, takes a subterranean course nearly parallel with its axis, and reappears at its lower end, a mile distant. An interesting fact was communicated to the authors by the Rev. J. Williams, of Farlow, of an accidental accumulation in the hollow of its inlet of a body of water estimated at 1,635,000 cubic feet, the whole of which was carried away in forty-eight hours by the sudden clearance of the channel. In describing the palæontology of these rocks, the authors specially drew attention to the fortunate discovery, in the yellow sandstone of Farlow, of Pterichthys macrocephalus (spec. nov., Egerton), made while reducing the thickness of a large ripple-marked slab sent them by Mr. Weaver Jones in illustration of the physical conditions of the deposit. This Pterichthys proving identical with the fragment previously found in the Farlow Sandstone by Thos. Baxter, Esq., F.G.S., they attached to the paper a descriptive note on that fossil, by Sir Philip Egerton, in which the Farlow Pterichthys was contrasted with that of Dura Den, and additional proof given of the identity of the genera Pamphractus and Pterichthys. In addition to pterichthyoid remains, scales of two species of Holoptychius, one probably new, had been found by them. The richness of the overlying limestones in palatal teeth was shown by a fine series of examples, amongst which Orodus ramosus, of unusual size and in perfect condition, and an undescribed Pœcilodus, of great magnitude, were most conspicuous. Other genera represented were Helodus, Psammodus, Cladodus, Cochliodus, Petalodus, and Ctenoptychius. Ichthyodorulites, of large size and rich ornament, chiefly belonging to the genera Ctenacanthus and Oracanthus, accompany these teeth. The notices of the invertebrate fauna given by the authors proved the assumed lowness of the Oreton Limestones in the Mountain Limestone series—the zone of Rhynconella pleurodon being well marked, crinoidal and bryozoan remains abundant though fragmentary, and corals nearly absent. A large series of Pterichthyes and of rock-specimens were exhibited in illustration by Mr. George E. Roberts; and a collection of palatal teeth was liberally sent for exhibition by W. Weaver Jones, Esq., of Cleobury Mortimer, and by Edward Baugh, Esq., of Bewdley.

2. "On some Fossil Plants, showing Structure, from the Lower Coal Measures of Lancashire." By E. W. Binney, Esq., F.R.S., F.G.S. After noticing the views taken of the structure of Lepidodendron by Hooker and others, the author proceeded to describe three portions of calcified stems, Lepidodendroid in external appearance, two of which exhibit in section a central axis composed, not of cellular tissue, but of large, transversely barred, hexagonal vessels. These two specimens the author refers to a new species, Sigillaria vascularis. The third specimen differs from the others in the absence of the thin radiating cylinder of barred vessels around the central axis; this he terms Lepidodendron vasculare. Microscopical preparations and photographs of sections were supplied by the author.