1 4 2 FILICES. 



that it has an extraordinary resemblance in habit to the genus Rhacopteris, 

 Schpr, which is undoubtedly a Fern and of which we also know the fructi- 

 fication. In fact several species of Rhacopteris have been placed by 

 authors in the genus Noggerathia, though they differ from it in the purely 

 lateral insertion and in the direction of the pinnae. The literature has 

 been collected by Stur l . It is remarkable that the two genera are found 

 almost exclusively in Bohemia, Saxony, and Silesia, Noggerathia being 

 represented by several species in the Culm also of those countries. Rha- 

 copteris Sarana 2 is, I believe, the only known species from the Rhenish 

 Coal-measures. 



FERN -FRUCTIFICATIONS. It has already been remarked that at 

 the time that Brongniart founded his classification of fossil Ferns on 

 their nervation, scarcely anything was known of their fructifications. 

 But much has been added since that time to our knowledge of these 

 organs through the labours of different observers, among whom Gbppert 3 , 

 Schenk 4 , Weiss 5 , and Grand' Eury 6 stand preeminent. It was especially 

 from the examination of the silicified specimens from Grand' Croix 

 that the points of view were obtained, which made it possible to judge 

 with certainty of the remains of fructifications present only in their 

 impressions. It was shown once more in the case of these objects, as 

 in that of the remains of Coniferae, that the direct comparison of them 

 with the fructifications of our recent genera is altogether precarious and 

 dangerous, that it is allowable only when dealing with remains from the 

 newest deposits, and then only with all proper restrictions. In this respect 

 also must Goppert's attempt at a classification of fossil Ferns, which has 

 been already mentioned, be regarded as a failure. At the present moment 

 our knowledge of Palaeozoic and Mesozoic forms is very incomplete ; there 

 are a multitude of species in which the fructifications are either unknown, 

 or exist in a thoroughly unsatisfactory state of preservation. But this much 

 has been gained, that Stur 7 by his researches, which are unparalleled for 

 their care and extent, has found himself in a position to lay down the 

 necessary principles of a rational classification of fossil Ferns ; and though 

 some of his conclusions may be open to objection and untenable, yet the 

 greater number of them will certainly hold their ground. A valuable pub- 

 lication of Zeiller's 8 on this subject has also appeared almost at the same 

 time as Stur's works. Unfortunately these two authors, working indepen- 

 dently of one another, have described the same objects under different 

 names, and different objects under the same names, and thus the nomen- 

 clature has fallen into confusion. I shall adopt Stur's nomenclature in the 

 following remarks, because his work covers the whole field of study more 



1 Stur (4). 2 Beyschlag (1). 3 Goppert (2). 4 Schenk (3). s Weiss (1). " Grand' 

 Eury (1). 7 Stur (3) and (4). " Zeiller (7). 



