24 THE EVOLUTION OF PLANTS 



various Oolitic strata which form so large a 

 part of the Midlands, and the Lias, famous for 

 its fossil Reptiles. The Lower Oolites of the 

 Yorkshire coast are extremely rich in plant- 

 remains and have been called the "Oolitic Coal 

 Measures." 



To the Trias belongs the greater part of the 

 "New Red Sandstone," which covers large 

 tracts of country in the Midland and Western 

 counties, reaching the South Devon coast, 

 where it forms the red cliffs of Sidmouth. The 

 plant-fossils are not numerous in England, but 

 more frequent on the Continent. They are a 

 little different in character from the Jurassic 

 Flora, and some show an approach to the Palaeo- 

 zoic vegetation. 



The Palaeozoic period begins, as we descend, 

 with the Permian, a formation represented, for 

 example, by the Magnesian Limestone of North- 

 ern England; the red cliffs west of the Exe in 

 Devonshire are also said to belong to it. In 

 many parts of the Continent and especially in 

 Russia, whence it takes its name the Permian 

 is a great formation, and its lower beds rich in 

 fossil plants. The transition from the Mesozoic 

 Flora is practically lost; in the Permian we 

 find ourselves at once among typical Palaeozoic 

 Vegetation, of the same general character as 

 that of the Coal Measures gigantic Club- 



