Palaeontologie 283 



sized, and some account of Ne/natophycus, and other undoubted 

 Palaeozoic algae is included. After noticing the existence of 

 Bacteria and Fungi in early times, attention is called to the 

 scarcity of Palaeozoic Bryophyta, of which Marchantites, possibly 

 a thalloid Liverwort, and Musettes polytriehaceus, a fossil resemb- 

 ling a true Moss in habit, both from the Carboniferous, are 

 among the less doubtful examples. 



A more extended account of the Pteridophyta follows. 

 Beginning with the Equisetales, the morphology and anatomy 

 of Calamltes and Archaeocalamltes are described and figured, 

 and also the chief types of Calamitean fruetification. The 

 Palaeozoic Calamariae, though so far surpassing recent Equlse- 

 taceae, both in stature and complexity of Organisation, clearly 

 belong to the same class of Vascular-Cryptogams, and there is 

 no satisfactory evidence for attributing Phanerogamic affinities 

 to any members of the group. 



After a similar treatment of the Sphenophy Haies, the author 

 concludes that they are, as a whole, best regarded as a syn- 

 thetic group, combining the characters of Lycopods and Equise- 

 tales, while showing marked peculiarities of their own. Among 

 existing plants their nearest affinities appear to be with the 

 Psiloteae. 



The description of the Lycopodiales includes an account of 

 the seed-like fruetification of Lepicloearpon. Broadly speaking the 

 Palaeozoic Lycopods, show a general agreement in habit and 

 strueture with our living forms, though often attaining a much 

 higher grade of Organization. 



Of all the Vascular Cryptogams, the Filicales have best 

 maintained their position down to the present day. Within 

 the last few years, our knowledge of the fruetifications of 

 Palaeozoic ferns has greatly increased, and it has become more 

 and more clear that the Marattiaceae is the only recent family, 

 which can be said to have existed in anything like its present 

 form in Palaeozoic times. Typical Marattiaceous sori are fre- 

 quent, especially in the Carboniferous rocks, and several of 

 these are described and figured. Certain ferns have also been 

 referred to the Gleichenlaceae and other recent families. It is r 

 however, certain that groups differing widely from any now 

 existing, were then abundantly represented. Among these the 

 Botiyopterideae are of first importance. The elueidation of the 

 characters of this family, and of the importance of the 

 Eusporanglate (Marattiaceous) type are the most striking results 

 of recent research on Palaeozoic Filicales. 



In the synthetic group, the Cycadofilices, which Dr. Scott 

 considers in connection with the Filicales, we have still no 

 satisfactory knowledge of the fruetification of any member of 

 the group. The chief characters of Lyglnodendreae, Cycadoxy- 

 leae and Medullosae are given, and their position is regarded 

 as intermediate between the Ferns and Gymnosperms, having 



