FOREST OF WYRE AND TITTERSTONE CLEE HILL COAL FIELDS. 1035 



Of these, Dactylotheca plumosa Artis sp. and Lepidodendron Wortheni Lesqx. 

 occur in both the Radstockian Series and Westphalian Series, and are well-marked 

 species of both these horizons. Lepidodendron aculeatum Sternb. also occurs in the 

 Radstockian and Westphalian, but is more rare in the first-mentioned horizon. 

 Sphenopteris neuropteroides Boulay sp. and Odontopteris Lindleyana Sternb. have 

 not previously been found out of the Radstockian. Neuropteris macrophylla Brongt. 

 has on a previous occasion been found in the Staffordian Series, but from which 

 group is not at present determined. Neuropteris jiexuosa Sternb., though it has 

 been collected as low down as the Black Band Group, is extremely rare there, but is 

 a characteristic species of the Radstockian. Neuropteris tenuifolia Schl. sp. and 

 Neuropteris Osmundas Artis sp. are both characteristic of the Westphalian Series 

 and are very rare in the Staffordian. Splienopliyllum cuneifolium Sternb. sp. is 

 common in both the Lanarkian and Westphalian Series, and I have not previously 

 seen it in a higher horizon than the Black Band Group. Cordaianthus dubius 

 Grand'Eury has only recently been recorded as a British species. Artisia ap- 

 proximator Brongt. sp. is the pith-cast of a Cordaitean stem and has no value as a 

 zonal record, as similar pith-casts occur as low down as the Calciferous Sandstone 

 Series, and probably originate from stems which have no specific relationship. 

 Stigmaria jicoides Sternb. sp. is also a non-zonal form. 



Among the species found in the Sulphur Coal Group and associated measures, 

 and which have previously been recorded from the Black Band Group, are several 

 which, though they occur in the Westphalian, also occur in the Radstockian. Of such, 

 Neuropteris Scheuchzeri Hoffm. and Pecopteris Miltoni Artis sp. may be mentioned. 

 The former is more characteristic of the Radstockian, but the latter is about equally 

 common in both. 



These Radstockian species in the Wyre Forest are, however, accompanied by a 

 few most characteristic Westphalian plants, such as Neuropteris tenuifolia Schl. sp. 

 and Neuropteris Osmundx Artis sp. These are both specially characteristic of the 

 Westphalian Series. Sphenophyllum cuneifolium Sternb. sp., Alethopteris lonchitica 

 Schl. sp., Calamites Suckowi Brongt., Lepidodendron aculeatum Sternb., and 

 Lepidophyllum lanceolatum L. & H. are common plants of both the Westphalian 

 and Lanarkian Series, and become rarer in the Staffordian. 



It is therefore seen that the Forest of Wyre list contains a greater number of 

 characteristic Radstockian plants than Westphalian species, and as the Radstockian 

 species are much more numerous than found to occur in the Black Band Group, the 

 beds from which these fossils have been derived must hold a higher horizon. 



These considerations clearly show that the beds under discussion must be referred 

 to the Newcastle Group. They are only separable botanically from the " Keele 

 Group " of the Radstockian Series by the presence of a few characteristic Westphalian 

 plants which have persisted up to this period, but after which they seem, as far as 

 at present known, to have disappeared. 



