hn INTRODUCTION. 
sedimentary formations ;—if the works of Baron CUVIER and others, founded 
on the early observations of WERNER, have afforded us so many interest- 
ing proofs of successive creations, from those of the early inhabitants of the 
deep, up to the more complicated structure of the bird and the quadruped ; 
—may we not expect equal pleasure and instruction from an application to 
the study of these ancient vegetable remains, which, when once properly exa- 
mined, will facilitate our knowledge of the forms, characters, and qualities 
peculiar to each epoch, and of the degree of temperature and humidity which 
must have existed during each successive period ? 
In the following pages, I propose, 1st, 'To offer some remarks on the 
Vegetation of the first period of the Ancient World, that is, from the first 
deposit of the transition series to the top of the coal-field; 2dly, 'To present 
an account of Fossil Vegetables found at Lennel Braes and Allanbank 
Mill, in Berwickshire; 3d/y, 'To exhibit representations of the organic tex- 
ture, as discovered by the microscope, of several fossil plants of the Coal- 
formation, Mountain Limestone group, and of the Lias, together with cor- 
responding representations of recent plants, of similar or analogous structure, 
and comparative views of other fossil and recent vegetables, accompanied 
with descriptive references; and, 4¢hly, To conclude with some general re- 
marks on the varieties represented and described, and on the subject of fos- 
sil plants in general. 
I here beg leave to express my grateful thanks to my friend Professor 
GrauaM, for his kind and prompt assistance in furnishing me with stems 
of recent monocotyledonous plants from the Botanical Garden, which has 
enabled me to compare the texture of the recent and fossil plants of that 
tribe. To my indefatigable friend Mr Nicot, I also feel peculiarly obliged, 
for providing me with beautifully prepared sections of plants; and to Mr 
Maceitiivray, for his unremitting attention and assiduity in the diffi- 
cult task of executing the beautiful drawings from which the engravings 
have been made. 
