vi PREFACE 



elusions of recent years, and bringing together the subject as a 

 whole. 



The mass of information which has been collected about fossil 

 plants is now enormous, and the greatest difficulty in writing this 

 little book has been the necessity of eliminating much that is of 

 great interest. The author awaits with fear and trembling the 

 criticisms of specialists, who will probably find that many things 

 considered by them as particularly interesting or essential have 

 been left out. It is hoped that they will bear in mind the scope 

 and aim of the book. I try to present only the structure raised 

 on the foundation of the accumulated details of specialists' work, 

 and not to demonstrate brick by brick the exposed foundation. 



Though the book is not written specially for them, it is probable 

 that University students may find it useful as a general survey of 

 the whole subject, for there is much in it that can only be learned 

 otherwise by reference to innumerable original monographs. 



In writing this book all possible sources of information have 

 been consulted, and though Scott's Studies^ naturally formed the 

 foundation of some of the chapters on Pteridophytes, the authorities 

 for all the general part and the recent discoveries are the numerous 

 memoirs published by many different learned societies here and 

 abroad. 



As these pages are primarily for the use of those who have no 

 very technical preliminary training, the simplest language possible 

 which is consistent with a concise style has always been adopted. 

 The necessary technical terms are either explained in the context 

 or in the glossary at the end of the book. The list of the more 

 important authorities makes no pretence of including all the refer- 

 ences that might be consulted with advantage, but merely indicates 

 the more important volumes and papers which anyone should read 

 who wishes to follow up the subject. 



All the illustrations are made for the book itself, and I am 

 much obliged to Mr. D. M. S. Watson, B.Sc., for the microphotos 

 of plant anatomy which adorn its pages. The figures and diagram 

 are my own work. 



This book is dedicated to college students, to the senior pupils 

 of good schools where the subject is beginning to find a place in 

 the higher courses of Botany, but especially to all those who take 

 an interest in plant evolution because it forms a thread in the web 

 of life whose design they wish to trace. 



M. C. STOPES. 



December, 7909. 



1 My book was entirely written before the second edition of Scott's Studies appeared, 

 which, had it been available, would have tempted me to escape some of the labour several 

 of the chapters of this little book involved. 



