THE DEVONIAN AGE. 107 



shallow and still water, on the margin of an extensive 

 jungle or forest; and as the spore-cases are similar 

 to those of the Lepidodendra of the coal-measures, 

 the trees were probably of this kind. Year after year, 

 as the spores became ripe, they were wafted away, and 

 fell in vast quantities into the water, to be mixed with 

 the fine mud there accumulating. When we come to 

 the coal period, we shall see that such beds of spore- 

 cases occur there also, and that they have even been 

 supposed to be mainly instrumental in the accumula- 

 tion of certain beds of coal. Their importance in this 

 respect may have been exaggerated, but the fact of 

 their occurrence in immense quantities in certain coals 

 and shales is indisputable. 



This is but a slender sketch of the Devonian 

 forests ; but we shall find many of the same forms of 

 plants in the carboniferous period which succeeds. 

 With one thought we may close. We are prone to 

 ask for reasons and uses for things, but sometimes 

 we cannot be satisfied. Of what use were the De- 

 vonian forests ? They did not, like those of the coal 

 formation, accumulate rich beds of coal for the use 

 of man. Except possibly a few insects, we know 

 no animals that subsisted on their produce, nor was 

 there any rational being to admire their beauty. 

 Their use, except as helping us in these last days to 

 complete the order of the vegetable kingdom as it 

 has existed in geological time, is a mystery. We can 

 but fall back on that ascription of praise to Him " who 

 liveth for ever and ever," on the part of the heavenly 



