OP CENTRAL INDIA AND BENGAL. 319 



In all (exclusive of the woods, which represent many varieties but most 

 of which probably belong to the same plant of which other parts are pre- 

 served in other specimens), some 46 species or varieties. 



At the first broad view, the presence of dicotyledonous angiosperms 

 would at once.indicate that this flora represented a period more recent 

 than the true coal-measures of Europe, if the opinion of M. Brongniart, 

 unquestionably one of the highest authorities on the subject, be correct(a) 

 • But all such conclusions based upon merely negative evidence are I 

 believe utterly untrustworthy, and can afford no truly sufficient ground 

 for reasoning. 



The general character of this flora is at once marked by the number of 

 Cycadacese, which constitute nearly one half numerically of the entire 

 group (21 out of 46). But these form the prevailing characteristic of 

 the flora to a much greater extent, even than these numerical propor- 

 tions represent, from the size, abundance and luxuriance of growth of the 

 individuals of those species. Slabs of several square yards could fre- 

 quently be obtained, whose surfaces would shew nothing whatever but 

 the matted leaves of these plants, often most beautifully preserved. On 

 the other hand, while there appear to be representatives of no less than 

 14 well marked species of Ferns, this interesting group of plants is by 

 no means so abundantly represented, and examples of these varieties are 

 comparatively rare. 



Viewed in its geological relations, this flora at once proclaims itself as 

 Mesozoic, and at first sight, it would even appear to be Upper Mesozoic. 

 Such is, undoubtedly, its general aspect. 



Examining it more in detail, we find unfortunately few out of the total 

 number of species noticed, which can be identified with others known to 

 occur elsewhere. There are, however, some, and these are of great 

 importance. Of the cycadese, two are (as was originally indicated by 

 myself in 1854) identical with similar plants from Cutch described by 



(a) Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Ser. 3. Vol. V, p. 61. 



