OBSERYATIONS 



ON THE 



STRUCTURE OF FOSSIL PLANTS 



FOUND IN THE 



CARBONIFEROUS STRATA. 



INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 



When we consider the great number of valuable specimens from the Coal-measures 

 of Great Britain now in our public and private collections, and see what has been 

 done to bring them before the world, we are led to believe that our Carboniferous Fauna 

 and Flora, but more especially the latter, have scarcely had that attention devoted to 

 them which their importance demands. If the curators of our public Museums would 

 describe the specimens under their charge, private collectors describe theirs, and the 

 Council of the Palaeontographical Society lend its assistance in publishing, something 

 useful might be effected. In addition, the aid of the coUiery-proprietors should be 

 solicited for the purpose of obtaining funds to enable the Palaeontographical Society to 

 engage the best artists. When this is done we are likely to possess a literature on our 

 Carboniferous Fossils worthy of the first coal-producing country. 



Having specimens of Calamites in my own cabinet, collected by myself, I have been 

 induced to make a small beginning, trusting that some other more competent parties 

 may be induced to follow my example. Knowing the great difficulties that have to be 

 encountered in investigating the nature of the Plants which have formed our beds of coal, 

 my object will be chiefly to describe them, without attempting to trace their analogies 

 with living organisms. 



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