New-York tribune., 1874-04-27
LOWER SILURIAN FOSSILS.

ny PROF. j. S. NEwBERRY OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE,
NEwYoRK.
This was memoir on the so-called Land
Plants the Lower Silurlan in Ohio. In the January
number OF The american Journal Of Science Mr.. Leo
Iesquereux describes two fossils found In the upper
portion Of the Cincinnati group near Lebanon, Ohio.
These he considers tho remains Of land plants and
refers them to the genus Siglaria; and this case is
cited as the first instance where plants so hgny
Through the Kindness OF the Rev. III. Herzer to whom
the specimens in question belong, they had been 10 my
Lesquereuxs notice, and had examined them with
some care for the purpose OF deternlhhR, posslpe,
drawings OF them, OF which copies are herewith sub
mltted As the result OF my examination am
in the external characters or internal struc-
ture OF these specimens any satisfactory evidence
thsy thS ,or sDscies OF the genus SlSiaria Their
external markings are fairly represented IN the accom-
panymg figures, and am compelled to say that they
exhibit no internal organic structure whatever They
arc simply casts earthly limestone without CARBON.
smaller specimen is dscoid section OF cylindrical
trunk Of Which the external surface very smooth, but
section OF the genus Sigttaria. fail TO find,
however, any dots or tubercles In the
Lesquereux and which they present might be
supposed TO the place OF the nutrient vessels
OF the leaves Taken by Itself sh0uld say that this
specimen might be considered TO represent sponge or
some other low form OF marine life. quite as well as
Sgiarid Since the specimen IL SO small and forms SO
little OF the orgina organism thinkst would be unsafe
TO make II the base OF any general and important con-
clusiOn.
The layer specimen is represented, like the other,
OF the natural size This is also cast OF
nearly cylindrical trunk OF which the ex-
ternal surface Is Ioughened by irreguarly disposed
and unequay sized enticular promnences. These re-
CALL rude way, the leaf borne by the trunks or
some LycopOdaceouB Cycadaceous plants, but they
90 not exhibit the spiral arrangement nor tho details
which the leascars OF such plants amost un
yersay retain In the fossil state. In the interior OF this
trunk few rregularly scattered points OF car
bonaceous matter but they not continuous nbes and
To my eye show traces Of cell structure.
Taking all the characters OF these interesting fossils
ino consideration, am disposed TO regard them as
casts OF the OF colds Had they been land plants
they would almost certainly exhibit more dlstnctness
and regularity OF surface marking, some coating OF
and traces OF organic structure.
large number OF specimens Of seahoated land plants,
which we have found in the Deyonian limestones OF
Ohio. all assert their botanical afnities by these
characters. The remains OF fucolds, on tho con-
trary, consist almost universally OF mere casts
OF their external surface, oarbonaceous matter
and internal structure having both entirely disappeared
For these reasons, therefore, should hesitate TO hang
upon these specimens important conclusion as that
promulgated by Mr. LesQuereux. would not be under
Stood however, 10 assert positively that they not
the remains Of land pants, for they TOO imperfect
" DO decisive OF tpat question: pat only ths aat teey