280 Contributions towards Establishing the General Character 



but the appearances I have observed are such as to prevent me thinking 

 otherwise for the present. 



With respect to the other Sphcnopterides, especially those which Goep- 

 part has included in his genera Stefensia, Cheilanthites, Hymenophyllitrs, 

 and Trichomanites, there is little doubt of their being Ferns. Therefore, 

 on this account alone, it would appear they cannot have belonged to a 

 plant, whose internal structure was so abnormal as Sigillana, when viewed 

 with reference to its vascular cryptogamic affinities. Another reason 

 may be urged against Sphenopteris being the foliage of Sigillaria ; it is 

 founded on the general scarceness of individual specimens of the former 

 over extensive areas, contrasted with the abundance of the latter when 

 considered in the same light. 



The next genus, Pecoptcris, is stated to be the most abundant fossil of 

 the coal-formation, no fewer than sixty species having been described : 

 individuals are to be found in the same proportion. Brongniart says, that 

 this group approaches to the usual structure of living Ferns, and it com- 

 prises the greatest number of species so intimately allied to kinds now 

 existing, as to render their identity with the latter a matter beyond dis- 

 pute.* This statement will be sufficient to prevent us looking amongst 

 the various Pecopterides for the object of our present researches, especially 

 if any other fossil will affiard us a character less related to the existing 

 Filicidas. 



This appears to be the case with the next and allied genus Neuropteris, 

 which, as regards " fructification, the form and structure of the leaves, 

 seems to diffisr completely from all living Ferns. "t 



The genera Pecopieris and Neuropteris, as they stand at present, evi- 

 dently comprise species which may serve as the types of other genera : 

 further, it is a debateable point, whether many of the so-called Pecop- 

 terides may not belong to the genus Neuropteris : and, on the other hand, it 

 is disputable whether some which have been described as Neuropterides 

 may not belong to Pecopteris. The following species seem to be in this 

 predicament, Pecopteris sinuata, P. obliqua, P. Deforanci, P. nervosa, 

 Neuropteris elegans, N. lanceolata (Steininger^, and several others. 



Twenty-four species of Neuropteris have been enumerated, as belong- 

 ing to deposits of the carboniferous epoch. In Felling Pit, where we 

 find Sigillaria, this genus and Pecopteris are the commonest fossils. 



We have thus hastily glanced at three kinds of foliaceous remains, 

 whose connexion with Sigillaria has the most probability in their favour. 

 But of this number, from what has been said of Sphenopteris, two alone, 

 viz., Pecopteris and Neuropteris, appear to merit our attention in this re- 

 spect ; and, though we have not as yet been able to decide which of 

 the latter constituted the foliage of Sigillaria, we have nevertheless, it 

 will shortly be seen, made some progress in our enquiry. 



The internal structure of Sigillaria elegans indicates clearly that this 



• « Vejretaiix Fossiles," ton>c i., p. 267, t IbiJ. p. 227. 



