44 Br. Shaw, On lossil Plants from [Oct. 28, 



otlier constituent of personal character, and the study of it must be 

 ultimately personal." 



This question of soil, then, is an element not to be disregarded, and 

 associated with its adaptations in various directions are the questions 

 of ^^ Predispositiona in Dtsease,^^ the establishment of "Diathesis in 

 Disease,^' " Immunities from Pisease,^^ &c. 



Each one of these developments I touched upon in my last paper, 

 and I endeavoured to shew by concrete examples, how marked adap- 

 tations could demonstrably be shewn to have taken place in various 

 directions, of living cell elements in the body to germs outside. 



It would have afforded me much pleasure to go more fully into this 

 aspect of the matter to-night. Want of leisure, and shortness of time 

 however force me to content myself with what I have said. In con- 

 clusion, let me hope that I have succeeded in making clear my views, 

 and that I have supplied a few thoughts which are wortuy the 

 consideration of the members present. 



Of necessity it is not possible to avoid technicalities in a communi- 

 cation of this sort, but I have tried to be as careful as possible to 

 express in general terms my meaning. Whether I have in conse- 

 quence appealed as forcibly to you as E should have liked is a subject 

 of doubt to me. At any rate I shall, I hope, be credited with good 

 intentions, and if I have excited even the smallest amount of interest I 

 shall consider myself amply repaid for my slight trouble in preparing 

 these notes. 



ON FOSSIL PLANTS FEOM INDWE AND CYPHEEGAT 

 COAL BEDS. 



By Dr. Johk Shaw, F.L.S., &c. 



Mr. P. W. Murray, of the Cape Times, handed over for my inspec- 

 tion specimens of shale from the coal beds of Indwe and Cyphergat, 

 having impressions of plants. Unfortunately they had been subjected 

 to barbarous treatment during transit, and I have only been able to 

 make out three. These are ferns, and one cj'cadaceous plant. 



Pecopteris odontopteroides. Morris. 



Cycadites pectinoides. 



Sphenopteris Murrayana. Nor. Spec. 



Diagnosis of the last : Frond dichotomously divided ; each division 

 irregularly pinnate ; pinnae bi-pinnate, segments linear recurved. 



This plant is very different from S^yhcjiopteris elongata of Carruthers 

 in being altogether more robust and rigid in habit. 



Pemarks on the probable horizon of the coal beds : — The coal of 

 these fields is, according to Professor Green, sub-aqueous and not 

 a land or sub-aerial formation like that of the carboniferous age in 

 England. It probably belongs to the Jurassic age. Carruthers has 

 referred one coal field with similar fos.ils, of Queensland, to that 

 age ; and the other coal field to tlie carboniferous age as having fossil 

 remains similar to those of the true carboniferous horizon. Professor 

 Owen has come to tlie same conclusion from examination of the 

 reptilian remains of those Upper Karroo coal-bearing beds. 



The old idea that coal was confined to the carboniferous age has 

 loug been exploded : it has been found in many ages. As has been 



