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XXVI. — On the Fossil Flora of the South Wales Coal Field, and the Relationship of its 

 Strata to the Somerset and Bristol Coal Field. By Robert Kidston, F.R.S.E., 

 F.G.S. (With a Plate.) 



(Read July 18, 1892.) 



The Coal Measures of the South Wales Coal Field fall into three well-marked 



divisions : — 



I. The Upper Pennant or Upper Penllergare Series. 



II. The Lower Pennant Series. 



III. The White Ash Series. 



In 1885 I paid a visit to this Coal Field, with the object of studying its Fossil Flora, 

 hoping by this means to ascertain the relative position of the Welsh Coal Measures to 

 those of the other Coal Fields of Britain. 



During my visit I examined the collection of fossil plants in the Free Museum, 

 Cardiff, and from the Curator, Mr John Storrie, I received much kindness and assistance 

 as to the localities and horizons from which the specimens had been derived. I also 

 examined the collection in the Museum of the Royal Institution of South Wales, Swansea, 

 and from Mr H. Huxham, the President of the Association, and Mr E. Lewis, the 

 Assistant Curator, I received every help. I am also further indebted to Mr Lewis for 

 allowing me to examine the fossil plants in his private collection. 



In addition to examining these collections, I visited several parts of the Coal Field 

 with the purpose of collecting the fossil plants, and secured several species which I had 

 not seen in any of the museums visited, and my thanks are especially due in this respect 

 to Mr Colquhoun, manager of the Tredegar Iron Works, who, in his absence, had kindly 

 instructed Mr Stratton to give me any assistance that might be necessary, and to Mr 

 Stratton's thoughtful help I am indebted for some interesting specimens. In the same 

 way I am indebted to Mr Hood, manager of the Glamorgan Coal Co., and to Mr 

 Stewart, manager of the Penrhiwfer Colliery, near Pontypridd. 



Little addition was made to my notes of 1885 till last year, when Mr W. O'Connor, 

 then at Aberdare, but now at Ystrad-Rhondda, Glamorganshire, submitted to me for 

 examination a good collection of fossil plants, the information gained from which, when 

 added to that derived from the collections I originally examined, has yielded, I believe, 

 sufficient data for the correlation of the Welsh Coal Measures with those of other parts 

 of Britain. To Mr O'Connor, for his assistance in this matter, I have to express my great 

 indebtedness. To Sir Archibald Geikie I also am indebted for permission to examine 



VOL. XXXVII. PART III. (NO. 26). 4 Q 



