PEEFACE. 



TN acceding to Mr Shipley's request to write a book on 

 -*- Fossil Plants for the Cambridge Natural History Series, 

 1 am well aware that I have undertaken a work which was 

 considered too serious a task by one who has been called a 

 " founder of modern Palaeobotany." I owe more than I am 

 able to express to the friendship and guidance of the late 

 Professor Williamson ; and that I have attempted a work to 

 which he consistently refused to commit himself, requires a 

 word of explanation. My excuse must be that I have en- 

 deavoured to write a book which may render more accessible 

 to students some of the important facts of Palaeobotany, and 

 suggest lines of investigation in a subject which Williamson 

 had so thoroughly at heart. 



The subject of Palaeobotany does not readily lend itself to 

 adequate treatment in a work intended for both geological 

 and botanical students. The Botanist and Geologist are not 

 always acquainted with each other's subject in a sufficient 

 degree to appreciate the significance of Palaeobotany in its 

 several points of contact with Geology and recent Botany. I 

 have endeavoured to bear in mind the possibility that the 

 following pages may be read by both non-geological and non- 

 botanical students. It needs but a slight acquaintance with 

 Geology for a Botanist to estimate the value of the most 

 important applications of Palaeobotany ; on the other hand, 

 the bearing of fossil plants on the problems of phylogeny and 



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