PRESIDEXTIAI, ADDRKSS SECTION 1!. 4I 



Specimens of fossils found in the Karroo beds in Northern 

 and Southern Rhorlesia are Schiconcura goidzn'anc'iisis, Glosso- 

 pteris broK'fiiana, G. aiiipla, Vcrtcbraria (the rhizome of Glosso- 

 ptcris), Gangamoptcris sp. and Nopggcrathiopsis sp. A calamite- 

 looking stem was obtained from the Umsingwani coal-field (Tuli 

 district), while there is in the museum a well-defined specimen 

 of Sigillaria from the Sengwe. The occurrence of the two latter 

 ■specimens of the northern flora in Rhodesia is peculiarly 

 interesting, for Calamites, Cycadofilices and ferns of that type 

 have also been found at Tete on the Zambesi in association with 

 Glossoptcris, and the Luano coal-field of North- Western Rho- 

 desia has yielded ScIu^:onciira, also a migrant to Europe, and 

 Sphenophyllales, a visitor from the north. The land connection 

 with the northern continent may thus have been nearer to 

 Rhodesia than elsewhere — an inference strengthened by th? 

 existence of terrains of Karroo rocks on the middle Kafue and 

 in Katanga, and by the opinion of Mr. F. E. Studt that sand- 

 stones of the Kundelunga series, comparable with our Karroo 

 system, form the Congo basin. Search for fossils is a matter 

 which should be taken in hand with zest, for they will materially 

 aid to an understanding of the geography of the period, and 

 .show where and to ' what extent the overlap of northern and 

 southern floras existed. 



From the dense vegetation among which the Glossoptcris 

 flora grew was formed the vast deposits of coal occurring in 

 Rhodesia. Of the formation of the coal beds there is much that 

 suggests a different genesis to that of the deposits of the Northern 

 Hemisphere. And they now form supplies of fuel under several 

 thousands of square miles of the area of Rhodesia, placed in 

 regions easily accessible by railway — supplies that are destined 

 to play an important part in the future economic development 

 of the country. It will thus be realised how much the flora of 

 this age deserve a close investigation by our paleobotanists. 



Distribution of Karroo Fauna. 



The fauna of the Permo-Carboniferous is of equal interest 

 to the flora. 



The Karroo period, commencing at the close of the 

 Palaeozoic Age and running far into the Mesozoic_, presents 

 other interesting problems in its animal life. It saw the waning 

 of the age of the invertebrates, and watched the dawn and 

 waxing of a new creation — the age of reptiles and of fishes, 

 mammals and birds. 



The lakes, swamps. and fern brakes of the newly growing 

 continent seem to have been especially favourable for the 

 development of these animals. Species and genera in great 

 number existed, which included the forebears of crocodiles and 

 lizards, and perhaps the first mammal-like animals. The 

 earliest reptile, mcsosaui'HS. lived here. 



It is among the Karroo beds that the bones of these 

 individuals are found in great numbers, on which Owen and 



