Vegetation of the First Period of an Ancient World. 1 1 1 



mariae, (Lycopodise) the second were fine specimens of great circum- 

 ference of Sigillarise (Felicis.) Two of these last named speci- 

 mens, which were situated in the space cleared out to get at the 

 lead ore, stand erect, and their roots are firmly imbedded in a thin 

 stratum of bituminous shale, much carbonized. I should think the 

 height of one of these prodigious fern stumps may be about five feet, 

 and its diameter probably exceeds two. The other, which has been 

 kindly presented to me, may be seen in my museum, No. 14, Great 

 King Street. 



It has, I understand, been the opinion of some gentlemen, who 

 have visited these ancient relics, that they have been washed into 

 and deposited in their present situation by some aqueous revolution. 



To this conclusion I must object, for two reasons, — first, because 

 the roots are firmly imbedded in the shale, as if they had remained 

 undisturbed in their original earthy envelop ; and, secondly, because 

 you may discover in each cheek of the vein, other trunks of these 

 members of this ancient flora, in the solid rock, the position and the 

 appearance of which are more consistent with the supposition that 

 they grew on the spot where they were found. The confused heap- 

 ing, fracturing and violence, which characterize diluvial action, are 

 not seen here. 



In proceeding towards the east, I received much valuable informa- 

 tion from my intelligent friends, Mr. Buddie (an eminent coal-viewer 

 upon the rivers Tyne and Wear,) and Mr. Hutton, of Newcastle, 

 whose anxiety in pursuit of this branch of the science is so well 

 known. 



In the great Newcastle coal-field, the fossil plants are generally in 

 horizontal position, or parallel with the strata, in the greatest possi- 

 ble confusion ; much broken, and the parts far separated. Indeed, 

 the confusion is the most serious difficulty the observer has to con- 

 tend with. It is, however, difficult to trace the operation of a cur- 

 rent of water, sweeping off the weaker vegetables and depositing them 

 where we now find them so beautifully preserved. Notwithstand- 

 ing this there are to be found in considerable abundance, in various 

 positions, large and strong trunks of plants which appear to remain 

 in their natural position, and which have been able to withstand the 

 force of such torrents, if it can be proved that any such did exist. 

 These vertical plants I have generally found to be the sigillarise. 

 The seginarias, the stigmariae, and Calamites, (speaking generally) 

 on the contrary do not appear to have been sufficiently strong to 



