as compared with that of the present day. 3G9 



was then inhabited, or those hitherto unrecognised alUes that may 

 now surround us. 



The foregoing remarks admit of illustration, to a certain extent, 

 by particular instances. This may be useful, because indicating to 

 the student those errors into which he is most liable to fall. Since, 

 however, he may not be aware how closely the course of investiga- 

 tion pursued in the examination of a living flora ought to be followed 

 in studying a fossil one, it is, perhaps, well to enumerate those steps 

 by which a knowledge of both can be obtained. 



{To he concluded in our next Number.) 



On the Coal- Formation recently found in the Maremma of Tus- 

 cany. (^Extract from a Notice of M. PiLLA, Professor in the 

 University of Pisa.) By M. L. Frapolli. 



The geologist who visits for the first time that vast space 

 of the Italian coast called the Maremma, is at once struck 

 with the singular nature of the formations he meets with. 

 He continues in a state of uncertainty, and dare not pro- 

 nounce an opinion, on witnessing the marks of great modifi- 

 cations presented by a surface in appearance so flat and uni- 

 form, whose sti'ata, shaken and altered in their nature, indi- 

 cate the force of plutonic causes, and the manner in which 

 the massive rocks and metallic substances with which this 

 territory abounds have been brought into view. It is to 

 these same causes that we must ascribe the actual appear- 

 ance of the organic substances met with in the midst of these 

 mineral beds, and which are a real treasure in a country 

 where forests are rare, and where, up to the present time, 

 all researches with the view of supplying the want of them 

 have been unsuccessful. 



The qualities of the combustible substance found in the 

 Maremmas at Monte Massi and Mont Bamboli, the nature 

 of the formation in which it is contained, and the chances of 

 success in mining it, are the subjects which M. Pilla treats 

 of in his notice. 



It is but a short time since an industrial society belonging 

 to Livorno, caused a pit to be dug at Monte Bamboli, in the 

 territory of Massi, in search of coal. At a small depth this 



