CARBONIFEROUS LYCOPODS AND SPHENOPHYLLS. 



Carboniferous Lycopods and Sphenophylls. 



By Robert Kidston, F.R.S.E., F.G.S. 



[Read 28th November, 1899.] 



In accordance with the custom of this Society, on the termination 

 of my office as President, it falls to me this evening to deliver a 

 retiring address. 



Before treating of the subject on which I specially wish to 

 address you, I take this opportunity of thanking the Society for 

 the honour they conferred upon me three years ago when they 

 elected me their President, and the kind indulgence they have 

 shown to me in the discharge of my duties. I would, however, 

 specially express my thanks to the Council and to your two 

 Secretaries for the kindly spirit which has pervaded all our 

 meetings, public and private. They have been a pleasure to me, 

 though I am afraid that personally I have not done much for the 

 furtherance of the objects of the Society. This, however, has 

 been well seen to by my colleagues in office. 



Presidential addresses are of two kinds : the first is that which 

 treats of science generally, the other that which deals with some 

 special subject. Between these two there seems to be no middle 

 course, and as I did not feel able for the first form of address, I 

 have chosen the other alternative, and wish to speak to you 

 to-night on the Carboniferous Lycopods and Sphenophylls. 



CARBONIFEROUS LYCOPODS AND SPHENOPHYLLS. 



When one begins the study of Carboniferous Fossil Plants, 

 probably the first specimen acquired will be a piece of the stem 

 or rhizome of a Lycopod. The group is widely distributed 

 throughout the Carboniferous Formation, and of so frequent 

 occurrence that perhaps we do not give them the consideration 

 they deserve., The Sphenophylls are, however, more rare. 



All text-books of geology, even the most elementary, refer to 

 the Lycopods, and generally give a few rough illustrations. 

 Lepidodendron, Sigillaria, and Stigmaria are so often mentioned 

 that one is led to believe that their whole life-history is clearly 

 made out, and that nothing further regarding them is left for 



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