PLANTS IN THE COAL FORMATION. 4o0 
these most ancient remains of the vegetable king- 
dom are preserved, in a state of integrity, little 
short of their living perfection, under conditions 
of our Planet which exist no more. 
SECTION II. 
VEGETABLES IN STRATA OF THE TRANSITION SERIES.* 
The remains of plants of the Transition period 
are most abundant in that newest portion of the 
deposits of this era, which constitutes the Coal 
Formation, and aftbrd decisive evidence as to 
the condition of the vegetable kingdom at this 
early epoch in the history of Organic Life. 
The Nature of our Evidence will be best illus- 
trated, by selecting a few examples of the many 
genera of fossil plants that are preserved in the 
Strata of the Carboniferous Order, beginning 
with those which are common both to the ancient 
and existing states of Vegetable Life. 
Equisetacece .'\ 
Among existing vegetables, the' Equisetaceae 
are well known in this climate in the common 
Horse-tail of our swamps and ditches. The ex- 
tent of this family reaches from Lapland to the 
* See PI. 1. Figs. 1, to 13. 
t See PL 1. Fig, 2. 
