
Parr IL Secr. iv.§1.] CARBONIFEROUS. —- 733 
Orthoptera, including a form of cockroach (Archimylacris); some 
ericket-like forms (Gryllacris) and beetles. The wing of what 
has been supposed to be a moth has been found in the Belgian 
Coal-measures.1. The British Carboniferous rocks have yielded 13 
genera of labyrinthodonts (Aithracosawrus, Loxomma, Ophiderpeton, 
Pholiderpeton, Pteroplax, Urocordylus, &c.). ‘These were probably 
fluviatile animals of predaceous habits, living on fish, crustacea, 
and other organisms of the fresh or salt waters of the coal lagoons. 
The larger forms are believed to have measured 7 or 8 feet in 
length; some of the smaller examples, though adult and perfect, 
do not- exceed as many inches.” 
Fossil plants have not hitherto served so well for purposes of geo- 
logical classification as fossil animals (ante, p. 611). Nevertheless M. 
Grand’EKury, who has devoted so much time and labour to the inves- 
tigation of the coal-basin of the Loire, believing that an undoubted 
order of succession of genera and species of plants.can be determined, 
has subdivided the Carboniferous system into groups on this basis. 
The following is a summary of his arrangement: * 
Supra-Carboniferous Flora, simpler and less rich than that below, 
showing a passage into the Permian flora above, characterized by a 
rapid diminution of Alethopteris, Odontopteris xenopteroides, Dictyopteris, 
Annularia, Sphenophyllum. The Calamites are represented by abundant 
individuals of C. varians and C. Suckowii, also Asterophyllites equisetiformis ; 
the ferns by Pecopteris cyatheoides, P. hemitelioides, Odontopteris minor, 
O. Schlotheimii, several species of Neuwropteris, &c.; the Sigillarias by 
S. Brardii, S. spinulosa, and Stigmaria ficoides ; Cordaites by numerous 
narrow-leaved forms; the Calamodendra by a prodigious abundance of 
some species, e.g., Calamodendron bistriatum, Calamites cruciatus, Arthro- 
pitus subcommunis ; the conifers by Walchia pinniformis and some others. 
Upper Coal Flora (properly socalled). Calamites often abundant— 
C. interruptus, C. Suckowii, C. canneformis, Asterophyllites hippuroides, 
Macrostachya infundibuliformis (very common), Annularia  brevifolia, 
and A. longifolia (common throughout), Sphenophyllum oblongifolium. 
Ferns richly developed, particularly of the genera Pecopteris (P. unita, 
arguta, polymorpha, and especially Schlotheimi); Odontopteris (O. reichiana, 
Brardu, mixoneura, xenopteroides, the last extremely abundant); Caulo- 
pteris macrodiscus, Alethopteris Grandini in great profusion, Callipteridium 
(C. ovatum, gigas, densifolia, common). Lepidodendra have almost disap- 
peared ; Sigillarie are not uncommon (S. rhitydolepis, S. Brardii), with 
Stigmariopsis and Syringodendron. Cordaites occurs in great abundance ; the 
conifers are represented by Walchia pinniformis and a few other species. 
Calamodendra occur in great abundance, especially Calamites cruciatus. 
Upper Coal Flora—Lower zone (Flore du terrain houiller sous- 
supérieure ).—Calamites and Asterophyllites abundant in individuals and 
species (C. Suckowii, Cistit, canneeformis, varians, approximatus, A. rigidus, 
? See an interesting paper on Carboniferous insects by Dr. H. Woodward (Q. J. Geol. 
Soe. 1872, p. 60), where a list is given of 6 species of myriapods, 3 coleoptera, 13 
orthoptera, and 17 neuroptera, from the Coal-measures. 
2 Miall, Brit. Assoc. 1873, 1874. 
3 “Flore Carbonifére du Département de Ja Loire et du Centre de la France,” 
Cyrille Grand’Eury, Paris, 1877. 
