262 Miocene, Bovey Tracey. 



Bovey as it existed in the Tertiary period, we sLall have 

 to sketch it somewhat in the following manner : The 

 woods which covered the slopes which surrounded the 

 beds of lignite, consisted mainly of a huge coniferous 

 tree {Sequoia Couttsice\ whose figure resembled in all 

 probability its highly admired cousin, the Sequoia 

 ( Wellingtonia) gigantea of California. It had just the 

 same graceful slender form in its vernal shoots, thickly 

 studded with leaflets ; and the similarity continued in 

 the older shoots and branches, which were clothed with 

 scales. But it presented a distinct character in its 

 shorter leaves, which were even more closely appressed 

 to the shoots, and in its smaller cones. The leafy trees 

 of most frequent occurrence were the cinnamons (Cinna- 

 momum lanceolatum and C. Sckeutchzeri) and an ever- 

 green oak (Quercus Lyelii) like those which now are 

 seen in Mexico. The species of evergreen figs were 

 rarer, as were also those of Anona and Gardenia. 

 The trees of the ancient forest were evidently festooned 

 with vines, beside which the prickly Rotang-palm 

 (Palmacites Dcemonorops) twined its snake-like form, 

 In the shade of the forest throve numerous ferns, one 

 species of which, Pecopteris ligriitum, seems to have 

 formed trees of imposing grandeur ; besides which there 

 were masses of underwood belonging to various species of 

 the genus Nyssa, which is at present confined to North 

 America. On the surface of the lake, in which were 

 formed the deposits of clay and sand that lie between 

 the lignite beds, were expanded the leaves of those 

 water-lilies, the ornate seeds of which are preserved for 

 our examination.' 



A description so vivid needs no comment, and of this 

 we may be sure, that this fragment of a flora only 

 represents a small part of that of a vast continent, to 



