Fossils in Coal. 
195 
The possible derivation of coal from vegetation is 
thus evident. That it was so formed is equally certain. 
We see from the coal itself that it is built up in thin 
layers, and that these layers are rich in impressions of 
fossil plants. In the coal itself, or in beds associated 
Fig. 51. Spirifer Tasmaniensis , l Morris. A Permo-Carboniferous 
spirifer from Raymond Terraco and Nowra. 
1, Dorsal aspect. 2, Ventral aspect. 
with it, trunks of trees have been found still standing 
© 
upright, as they grew. 
We can see plants growing and forming peat, 
and trace peat into lignite. Another step and 
we have coal. Whole tree trunks have been found 
1 Da Koninck : Atlas of New South Wales, Palaeozoic Fossils, Plate is. 
