IS76V] Knowledge of the Fossil Flora in India. 353 



For only the genus Glossopteris occurred at all frequently, and this 

 was the only fern formerly regarded as of any importance, because the 

 other forms were of rarer occurrence. 



But now we know that even amongst the older collections were other 

 forms of importance, to which last year two others were added from 

 Kurhurbali ; and this year Mr. Wood-Mason has added a good number 

 of interesting forms, all of which bear a mezozoic habitus, Taeniopteris- 

 like forms and ferns with net-venation predominating. 



The studies and works of the most illustrious palaeontologists have 

 shewn that the floras of the different epochs have in general special and 

 distinctive characters, although these may not be so strictly limited as in 

 the faunas, and although transitional forms are very often met with. 



Thus we know that the coal-period in Europe and America, and the 

 real lower coal-measures in Atistralia (Port Steffens, Smith's Creek, etc.), 

 have their own flora, which is characterized by certain Fquisetacece, and 

 amongst ferns especially by the Sphenopterides, true Neuropterides, prevalent 

 Alethopterides, Lepidodendron, Cyelostigma, Sigillaria, Stigmaria, etc. 

 Forms with net-venation are rare, the true Fictyopteris and Lonchopteris 

 being nearly the only forms of this kind and Taeniopteris being rare. 



The mezozoic epoch, however, is especially marked by these forms with 

 net- venation — forms generally different from the genera mentioned above 

 from the true carboniferous : we find Sagenopteris, Gheiropieris, Glathrop- 

 teris, Camp t opt er is, Gangamopteris ; more numerous Cyeadeaceae ; fre- 

 cpiently the order Taeniopterides, of different types ; amongst the Fecop- 

 terides we find certain forms, of which many can be united into one group, of 

 which Alethopteris Whitby ensis, Gopp., may be taken as the chief represen- 

 tative ; and we find on the whole more numerous forms allied to living genera. 

 This, however, does not exclude the possibility of a genus like Glossop- 

 teris having existed in Australia at a time when carboniferous marine 

 animals lived. 



The ferns which Mr. Wood- Mason has brought are for the most part 

 of such a natiire that one can point with probability to their living allies. 



I will not here speak more in detail of the ferns, as I have entered 

 fully into the subject in my Kach and Rajmahal flora in the ' Palaeontologia 

 Indica,' and will only indicate the palseontological order of ferns, in which 

 I will discuss them ; the best and latest system is to be found in Schimper's 

 ' Palaeontologie vegetale' and is as follows : — 

 Order I. — Sphenopterides. 

 „ II. — Neuropterides. 

 „ III. — Fecopterides. 

 „ IV. — Taeniopterides. 

 ,, V. — Fictyopterides. 

 Genera adhuc viventia, etc. 



