22 
ages, from the transition era to the cretaceous group ; and 
the dependance of its deposits on the waste of the Scandi- 
navian mountains is decided. The dependance of the other 
deposits on the waste of land to the north is a probable 
inference; and if we can imagine, what is probably true, 
that the Scottish and Scandinavian coasts were once united, 
the whole of the phenomena are intelligible as the varied 
deposits on the shores of one limited sea."* However 
conclusive this evidence may appear as regards the origin 
of the Sandstone and Shales, it does not, in my estimation, 
clear up the mystery regarding the original locality of the 
plants; for, even allowing that the shores of Scandinavia 
and Scotland were continuous at a remote period, as were 
also those of France and England ; still if the plants were 
common to the former continent, we ought to find their 
remains more generally dispersed, as is the case with the 
flora of the old coal formation, over several hundred square 
miles ; and on the other hand, if deposited by currents on 
its shores, we have still the site to discover, and also the 
cause of such limited patches only as occur at Scarbro', 
Brora, and Hor, while the whole extent of coast was equally 
subject to the effects of the ancient tidal waves. 
In the synopsis of coal plants found in Yorkshire, which 
I am about to submit, I have thought it better to use the 
nomenclature of Brongniart, Lindley and Hutton, in most 
cases, as being that by which they are best known ; although 
fully aware that some of these are no longer legitimate, 
having been used to designate as genera and species 
different parts only of the same plant found detached, or 
from separate localities, to which I shall have to allude. 
Beginning with the Vasculares, the first plant which claims 
our attention, from its extensive geographical distribution 
and great abundance, is Stigmaria, which has probably been 
* Treatise on Geology, vol. i., p. 217- 
