XXVI INTRODUCTION. 



GREENLAND. 



Without quoting the Kome beds of Greenland as undoubtedly 

 agreeing in the character of their flora with the Wealden of 

 England and North Germany, it must be noted that Heer has 

 insisted on the fact that there are several features in common 

 between them and the rocks of Wealden age in more southern 

 latitudes. 



This well-known flora 1 has been collected from several localities 

 in the Noursoak Peninsula on the west coast of Greenland; it 

 is characterized, among Greenland fossil floras, by the almost total 

 absence of Dicotyledons. We shall be in a better position to 

 examine the general characters of the Kome plants, and take 

 note of such species of distinctly Wealden type as are repre- 

 sented in these northern latitudes, when we have completed the 

 description of the English Wealden flora. 



Heer points out, that in spite of the small number of species 

 in common, there are enough to form a connecting link between 

 the Kome flora and those of the Wernsdorfer beds and typical 

 Wealden districts; 2 certain nearly allied species are quoted in 

 support of this assertion. Johnstrup, in the French resume at 

 the end of the fifth volume of the Meddelelser om Gronland, 

 speaks of the Kome flora as undoubtedly Urgonian in age. 3 The 

 same flora is referred to by Dawson in a recent number of 

 "Nature," 4 as probably corresponding to the Kootanie of 

 Canada and the Wealden of England. 

 % 



AMERICA. 



An exceedingly important work has recently been completed by 

 Prof. Fontaine, in which an abundant and varied flora is described 

 from the Potomac beds of North America. The term " Potomac " 



1 Fl. foss. Arct. vols. iii. vi. and vii. See also Meddel. Gronland, vol. v. 

 1883. For list of fossils see Fl. foss. Arct. vol. vii. pp. 173 et seq. 



2 Heer, loc. cit. vol. vii. p. 157. 



3 Meddel. Gronland, loc. cit. p. 227. 

 * Vol. xlvii. 1893, p. 557. 



