REMARKS ON THE VEGETATION OF THE ANCIENT WORLD. 5 
SECTION IL. 
REMARKS ON THE VEGETATION OF THE FIRST PERIOD OF THE ANCIENT 
WORLD, OR FROM THE FIRST DEPOSIT OF THE TRANSITION SERIES TO 
THE UPPER LIMIT OF THE COAL FORMATION. 
Berne firmly persuaded that the great objects of geology will be much 
advanced by a serious attention to the history of the vegetation of the diffe- 
rent epochs, from the most remote period of organic creation down to the 
present day, and being anxious to assist in promoting a spirit of inquiry in 
this country, as ardent as that of our continental neighbours, I have devoted 
a portion of my time to the examination of different coal-fields and moun- 
tain limestone groups, with the view of corroborating the inferences of the 
ingenious French naturalist, M. ApoLPHE Broneniart, who has lately 
laid before the world many judicious remarks upon this interesting but ob- 
secure branch of science. To Cuvier, STERNBERG, Bour, Brown, 
D’URVILLE, and others, we owe the elucidation of much that had previously 
been unknown in this dark field of early existence; but to M. ADOLPHE 
BRONGNIART it was reserved to present to the public a classification so na- 
tural, and generally so clear, as greatly to facilitate the labours of those who 
interest themselves in such pursuits. 
Impressed with the importance of the subject, I first of all availed my- 
self of the kindness of Mr Douputn, head-agent to Messrs Hau and 
Company, who solicited me to explore a vein called Jefferies’ Rake, in the 
Derwent Mines, near Blanchland, in the county of Durham. Having tra- 
velled up the adit about three-fourths of a mile, we began to descend, by 
the assistance of ladders. At the depth of about fifty-five fathoms below 
the surface, in a bed of sandstone nearly 40 fathoms thick, we were gratified 
