116 Vegetation of the First Period of an Ancient World. 



London University, and my friend Mr. Hutton, of Newcastle ;) we 

 find the opinion of Mr. Brongniart most completely verified ; namely, 

 that the vascular cryptogamic plants, had a vast numerical proportion, 

 and, in fact, of two hundred and sixty species discovered in this Ter- 

 rain or period, two hundred and twenty belong to this class. " Should, 

 however," adds Mr. Brongniart, " more precise observation, or new 

 discoveries, make known in the old formation some plants of more 

 than one of the classes which we have admitted, or even some spe- 

 cies of one of the classes, which have appeared to us to be wanting 

 at this epoch, still the essential relations of these classes to each oth- 

 er, would be but slightly modified. Thus, it might be proved, that 

 certain, yet little known genera of the coal formation are true dico- 

 tyledonous plants, yet it would not be the less certain, that the vascu- 

 lar cryptogamic plants were, by much the most numerous vegetables 

 during the first period of vegetation." The same remarks he makes 

 respecting the Lias, and other formations. Thus, whatever new dis- 

 coveries may be made in the vegetables of this period, from the first 

 deposit of the transition rocks, to the top of the coal field, yet the 

 essential characters can be but slightly modified, and this period will 

 always remain perfectly distinct. 



The more gentlemen will therefore interest themselves in promo- 

 ting the examination of the ancient relics, the more likely are they to 

 perceive the time fast approaching, when we shall be able, with great- 

 er certainty, to ascertain each deposit, by the peculiarity of its vegeta- 

 ble fossils. 



The essential character, therefore, of this first period of vegeta- 

 tion, is proved to be the predominance of vascular cryptogamic plants ; 

 and we have here a most striking example of the great development 

 which the species in question had attained in this first period of veg- 

 etable creation ; when the two principal agents, heat and moisture, 

 had evidently exerted an extraordinary influence. 



Geologists have entertained, and do entertain, very different notions 

 respecting the origin of coal. 



It appears very probable from the singular development of the veg- 

 etation of the first period, that these different combustible beds may 

 have been deposited as a kind of peat of greater or less extent, 

 formed from the remainder of vegetables, and on which other vege- 

 tables still grow. This opinion is, I should think, greatly confirmed 

 by the description just given of the Newcastle coal field. 



It appears also the more probable, as it is well known that many 

 plants of the families composing this early vegetation grow abundant- 



