No.409.] REVIEWS OF RECENT LITERATURE. 75 
seeds were actually developed. In spite of this, Dr. Scott is not 
inclined to admit that there is any connection between the arbores- 
cent Paleozoic Lycopods and the modern Conifers, although this is 
suggested by the similarity in habitof thetwo classes. He concludes 
that there is no satisfactory proof that the early Lycopods gave rise 
to any group of the higher plants — a conclusion with which all 
botanists will not agree. 
The Ferns are the subject of two chapters, in which the different 
types are clearly treated. Abundant remains of Ferns, often most 
beautifully preserved, occur in all the formations from the Devonian 
onward. Unlike the other three phyla of Pteridophytes, the Ferns 
have held their own, and at present constitute a very important 
element of the vegetation of many regions, especially in the mountains 
of the tropics. 
The fructifications are in many cases well preserved, and it is clear 
that the earlier Ferns were mostly types allied to the existing Marat- 
tiaceæ, which are thus shown to be a very old type, — a conclusion 
reached independently by the writer some years ago, from a study 
of the living forms. The fossil Marattiacez, however, showed far 
greater diversity than the few existing genera. The other existing 
group of Eusporangiate — the Ophioglossia,— which in certain 
respects seems to present very primitive characters, is very unsatis- 
factorily known in a fossil state, perhaps due to the very slight 
development of firm tissues in most of them. 
The occurrence of leptosporangiate Ferns in the Paleozoic rocks 
is rare, and their affinities doubtful. A small number of types, 
perhaps allied to modern Gleicheniacez and Osmundacez, have been 
discovered, but it is not until the Mesozoic is reached that any con- 
Siderable number of these are encountered. Last of all to appear 
are the Polypodiacez, preéminently the modern fern type. 
Among the most interesting of the Mesozoic Ferns were the 
Matoninz, now represented by the single genus Matonia of the 
Malayan region. This is a synthetic type, combining characters of 
the Cyatheacee and Gleicheniacez. 
One of the most important results of recent work with the Pala- 
ozoic fossils is the discovery of a group of plants intermediate between 
the true Ferns and the Cycads. These Cycadofilices have been 
extensively studied by Scott and Seward in England, as well as 
Y Several continental workers. Among the best known genera are 
Lyginodendron, Heterangium, and Megaloxylon. Many of theseforms 
which are formed from the lower Carboniferous and the Permian, 
