Manchester Meinoirs, Vol. xlviii. (1903), No. %. 25 



the Upper Coal Measures. There are, however, two 

 species, Annularia stellata (Schl), and Lepidodendron 

 dichotomum Zeiller (? Sternb.), which are confined to the 

 Upper Coal Measures or to the Upper Transition 

 Measures ; and two others, Neuropteris ScJieuchzeri Hofifm., 

 and Alethopteris Serli (Brong.), the latter recorded by 

 Binney, which are very much more abundant in the 

 Upper than in Middle or Lower Coal Measures. The 

 occurrence of these species distinguishes the Ardwick 

 flora from that of the Middle Coal Measures. On the 

 other hand, the number of Middle Coal Measure plants 

 present in these beds, and the absence of many typical 

 Upper Coal Measure species, e.g., Pecopteris arborescens 

 (Schl.), show that we are not dealing here with a flora 

 belonging to the true Upper Coal Measures. 



The fossil flora of the Bradford Series, more than 600 

 feet below the Ardwick beds, differs rather remarkably 

 from that of the higher horizon. I have not seen any of 

 the specimens which Salter has recorded, but if his deter- 

 minations are correct, these beds probably also form part 

 of the Upper Transition Measures of the Lancashire Coal- 

 field. Most of the species mentioned in the above list do 

 not extend above the Middle Coal Measures. But 

 Neuropteris teniiifolia (Schl.) occurs in the Upper Transi- 

 tion Series of the South Wales Coalfield, and Netiropteris 

 flexiiosa Brong. is confined to the Upper and the Upper 

 Transition Coal Measures. The evidence for the position 

 of the Bradford Series is not, however, so satisfactory as 

 that of the Ardwick beds. 



The occurrence of an Upper Transition flora in asso- 

 ciation with beds of "■ Spirorbis Limestone" is worthy 

 of further remark, for, in the Manchester Coalfield, 

 these limestones are better developed than in any other 

 British area. Such an association has also been found to 



