320 HISTORICAL (tEOLOGY. 



characteristic of the Paleozoic, are gone. They are re- 

 placed by other and very different forms. 



Plants. As the grand characteristic of the Coal pe- 

 riod was the predominance of the vascular Cryptogams, so 

 that of this period is the predominance of the next higher 

 group of plants, viz., Gymnosperms, i. e., Conifers and 

 Cycads, especially Cycads (see diagram on page 259). 

 Ferns and Equisetae, however, still abounded, though of 

 different genera from those of the Coal. But as the pe- 

 culiar flora of the Mesozoic did not culminate until the 

 Jurassic, we shall put off illustrations until that time. 



Animals. Although Cystids and Blastids disappear 

 with the Paleozoic, the Crinids are still represented by 

 many beautiful new forms, with plumose arms, which, 

 when expanded, must have presented a truly flower-like 

 appearance, and their fossilized remains are therefore 

 often called stone-lilies. One of these is shown in Fig. 



PIG. 257. Encrinus iiliformls FIG. 258. Ceratites nodosus. 



257, and on page 331 we give a similar form in expanded 

 condition. 



The Goniatites have passed away. The Ammonite 



