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referred to the various extinct floras found in the Cambrian and 

 Silurian formations, and dwelt at length on the flora of the 

 Devonian and Old Red Sandstone, in describing which he paid a 

 passing tribute to the memory of the late Hugh Miller, with 

 whose name this stratum is intimately connected. As might 

 be expected, the coal-producing strata in the lower part of 

 the carboniferous formation is very rich in fossil plants. 

 The lecturer entered into a lengthened description of these 

 fossils, pointing out many of their distinguishing and more 

 interesting characteristics, including their agreement with cer- 

 tain species at present existing in the southern hemisphere, a 

 circumstance which proves that our country at that time 

 possessed a much warmer climate. The Permian, of which very 

 little is found in these islands, is very deficient in extinct floras. 

 The second and third great section of rocks have fossil plants 

 more nearly approaching those still growing in our islands. 

 As a general rule, while the plants that were in existence during 

 the formation of rocks in the Primary section were Monocotyle- 

 donous, those in the Secondary and Tertiary were principally 

 Dicotyledonous. The lecturer concluded by a graphic descrip- 

 tion of the leaf beds of Bovey Tracey, Island of Mull, and the 

 northern part of County Antrim. 



