DESCRIPTION OF THE FRONTISPIECE. 



THE Frontispiece is intended to give an idea of what may pro- 

 bably have been the aspect of Vegetation in England during the 

 Coal period. The trees introduced are chiefly those living forms 

 which seem most analogous to extinct species. In the centre 

 is a tree fern, which was certainly a common and characteristic 

 plant. On the left is represented an ideal restoration of a Lepi- 

 dodendron (see p. 85); on the right in the distance are the tops of 

 Araucarias, coniferous trees nearly allied to which have been 

 found in the coal-measures. The remaining trees and plants 

 are inhabitants of Norfolk Island or Eastern Australia, but 

 seem to have had representatives in ancient times. 



