172 Mr. J. S. Newberry on Fossil Plants 
of which each series is composed, illustrating each separate 
division with a synoptic table of its contents and copious. 
remarks on its diagnostic characters. In all these matters 
their views are of course open to discussion; whether a cer- 
tain genus does or does not belong to a certain tribe is a 
matter of opinion, and can only be decided when its anato- 
mical affinities have been thoroughly investigated. But these 
minutia are comparatively of small importance, and do not in 
any way affect the main lines of the system. 
Such are the chief features of this great work, extending 
through 605 royal 8vo pages. ‘The basis on which the system 
is founded, that of the entire external skeleton, is more con-— 
sonant with the general scope of systematic arrangement in 
the higher classes of the animal kingdom, and much less liable 
to error than the tarsal or any other system which rests upon 
special organs alone. It is a system which only requires 
careful study. to ensure approval; it has conferred a lasting 
benefit on science and much honour upon its authors. To 
assert that it is perfect would be to assert more than man can 
accomplish. It is at the least a long step in the right direc- 
tion, and opens a path which must lead to further i important 
results. 
But the role of Lord Lytton’s “ Randall Leslie” and 
“ John Burley ” will continue to be repeated till the end of 
time, and plagiarists will doubtless reproduce the views of the 
American naturalists with some trifling modifications as their 
own. In the name of common honesty let those who hence- 
forth build upon the lines here laid down have at least suffi- 
cient candour to acknowledge their obligations—a candour 
which recent events have proved to be rare. 
X XIIUI.—WNotes on some Fossil Plants from Northern China. 
By J. S. NEWBERRY*. 
Mr. Arno“tp HaaueE recently placed in my hands a small 
collection of fossil plants brought by him from China, They 
proved to be interesting ; and, with his permission, I present 
briefly the results of my examination of them. 
The circumstances under which they were found, so far as 
known, are given in the subjoined notes of Mr. Hague which 
accompanied theme 
“This collection of plants came from the coal-basin of the 
* From the ‘ American Journal of Science,’ Aug. 1885, pp. 123-127. 
