ii6 



THE FOSSIL PLANTS OF THE YORKSHIRE 

 COAL MEASURES. 



Part I — What and How to Observe, Collect, and Record. 



W. CASH, F.G.S., 

 Halifax. 



Readers of 'The Naturalist' are doubtless aware that there is 

 in connection with the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union a ' Fossil 

 Flora Committee,' which has already done g"ood work under 

 the g"uidance of its president, the well known Paleeobotanist, 

 Robert Kidston, Esq., F. R. S., of Stirlin<^, N.B. The object of 

 this committee is to investigate the Fossil Plants of the York- 

 shire Coal Measures, and especially in three directions : — 



1. As to distribution of fossil coal plants vertically (in time), 

 and horizontally (in space), and particularly of fhe common 

 species. 



2. As to the discovery of species and genera new to the 

 county or to science. 



3. As to the correlation of the separate fragments of plants, so 

 as to show new, or at present, unexpected relations between 

 what are to-day regarded as distinct forms. 



There is no doubt that many readers of ' The Naturalist ' are 

 qualified to help in this investigation, and some occupy positions 

 particularly favourable to the production of most satisfactory 

 results ; to such persons, and to those to whom the subject 

 may be at present somewhat unfamiliar, it is proposed in the 

 following pages to strongly appeal. 



Most excellent results in this department of scientific research 

 were obtained by two men, the late James Binns and the late 

 James Spencer. These men, under most unfavourable conditions 

 and with the slenderest advantages, learned to Observe, Collect, 

 and Record many new species of fossil plants, and even genera 

 new to the county and to science ; the result of their strenuous 

 efforts and self-denying labours contributed greatly to the 

 value of the fine monographs which the late Professor William- 

 son, F.R.S., of the Manchester University, published in the 

 Royal Society's Transactions ; nor were their names and work 

 unknown to the leaders of fossil botany on the Continent, as 

 may be seen by consulting the papers of such distinguished 

 savants as Professor Renault and Dr. Hovelacque of Paris, 

 Count von Solms Laubach of Berlin, and many others. 



Naturalist, 



