THE GEOLOGIST 



APRIL, 1861. 



A LECTURE ON "COAL." 

 By J. W. Salter, F.G.S. 



(Continued from page 102.J 



I\ many respects the plants and animals of the coal differ much from 

 forms now living. It is probable that the greater part of them are 

 even of different groups or families from the existing ones. But the 

 ferns at least show strong traces of affinity. Here and there we meet 

 with the young fern-leaves coiled up as they now lie on the heather, 

 ready to unfold on the return of spring. We all know these " Bishops' 



Fig. 1. — 1. Curled up fronds (circinate) of Pecopteris (Brongniart). 

 2. 3, Fructification of ditto. 



crooks" that nestle in the bottom of the fern-baskets ; and when I saw 

 a grand specimen in Mrs. Stackhouse Acton's cabinet (it now graces 



VOL. IV. Q 



