58 SCIENCE PROGRESS. 



The application of fossil plants on the part of continental 

 palaeobotanists, to the sub-division and correlation of the 

 Coal-Measures, has often been extended in the case of 

 British strata by the work of Mr. Kidston. 1 His latest con- 

 tribution in this direction deals with the Coal-Measures of 

 Ayrshire, from which several species are described and 

 figured, including one new species of Lepidodendron, L. 

 Landsbtirgii,a.n& a new form of Lepidostrobus, L. Squarrosus. 

 In his remarks on a species of Lepidophloios, L. Acerosus 

 (L. and H.), 2 Kidston adds that he has recently seen a 

 specimen of Lepidodendron fuliginosum Will., which proves 

 the Lepidophloios nature of Williamson's plant. 



Before passing to the Permian period there is another 

 contribution to the flora of Carboniferous times which should 

 be mentioned, although it hardly comes within the limits 

 of the present retrospect. In the early part of the year 

 (1893) Mr. David White 3 published a description of a new 

 " Tseniopteroid Fern" from the Lower Coal-Measures of 

 Missouri, and his paper includes a suggestive discussion as 

 to the genetic relations of such forms as Oleandridium 

 (Tceniopteris), Dancsites, Megalopteris, Alethopteris, etc. 

 Such tables as the one given by White, indicating hypo- 

 thetical relations, are often of considerable interest, but in 

 most cases rest, to a large extent, on such slender evidence 

 as sterile fragments of fronds are able to afford. 



An important contribution to Permian botany has recently 

 been made by Prof. Sterzel of Chemnitz, 4 in which he gives 

 an elaborate account of the Rothliegende flora of the Plauen- 

 scher Grund district. Beginning with a historical sketch, 

 and some account of fossil animals, the author goes on to 

 deal at length with the Lower Rothliegende plants ; he 

 records the occurrence of such species as Odontopteris 

 obtusa (Brong. in part) Weiss, Callipteris prcelongata Weiss, 

 Pecopteris {Scolecopteris) arborescens (Schloth.), P. hemite- 



1 Trans. R. Soc. Edinburgh, vol. xxxvii., pt. ii., 1893, P- 3°7- 

 a Ibid., p. 343. 



3 Bull. Geol. Soc, America, vol. iv., 1893, P- T1 9- 



4 AM. Math, physisch. CI. k. Sachs. Ges. Wiss., vol. xix., 1893. 



