FOSSILS OF CARBONIFEROUS FORMATION. 61 



of the kinds which best resist decomposition in 

 water; whence it is inferred that many trees of 

 a high class may have existed at that time, but 

 perished in the sea, while weaker vegetation sur- 

 vived. This evidence would be negative at the 

 best; and it says as much for the non-preserva- 

 tion of mosses and other humble plants as for 

 dicotyledons. It has also been remarked that, 

 considering such facts as the disappearance of 

 equisetuni hyemale in water, a plant containing 

 an unusual quantity of silex, " the proportion of 

 fossil plants in each formation must depend on 

 other circumstances besides their power of resist- 

 ing decomposition."* " Too much importance 

 has," in the opinion of the author of this observa- 

 tion, " been attached to Dr. Lindley's experi- 

 ments." 



The British Quarterly Review says — " The au- 

 thor admits there were dicotyledons among these 

 plants, and does not see that, however few they 

 may be, it entirely upsets the theory of progres- 

 sive advance, especially in the absence of any 

 proof as to whether they were created first or 

 last." This proceeds, as do many similar objec- 



* Mr. C. J. Bunbury, at the British Association, 1845 ; 

 AthenzBam's Report 



