FOSSILS OF THE PERMIAN SYSTEM. 63 



ing with these, and finding the first great burst of 

 land vegetation composed mainly of low crypto- 

 gamic and monocotyledonous plants, — finding, 

 moreover, the exceptions chiefly of the interme- 

 diate character, and that the dicotyledons increase 

 afterwards while the others decline, — we cannot 

 well resist the conclusion, that we see the traces 

 of a progress in the history of this kingdom of 

 nature. It may be less clear than we could wish ; 

 but such light as we have certainly favours the 

 development theory. 



We now come to the Magnesian Limestone de- 

 posit, latterly called the Permian System. At this 

 place, the Edinbuigh reviewer introduces some 

 general observations, which I hope he will yet 

 acknowledge to be unjust, as I am sure the whole 

 of his substantive charges are. " It may be true," 

 he says, " that sea-weeds came first, but of this 

 we have no proof." How a good geologist can 

 have allowed himself to speak in this manner, 

 even in eagerness to theorise against theory, I am 

 quite at a loss to understand, for the positive facts 

 of the occurrence of fucoids in the Lower Silurians, 

 and of the very first traces of land vegetation in 

 -subsequent formations, are as palpable and un- 



