378 
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 
ate members, are often of more value to botanical science, than the description 
of so-called new species, established on some remains of a peculiar form, and of 
unknown relation. 
The number and diversity of the plants published in this volume, tend to 
indicate the richness of the fossil flora of our Coal Measures, and at the same 
time, show an increasing activity in research. 
The publication of the fossil flora of the second voljune of the Geological 
Survey of Illinois, has excited a remarkable interest for botanical palaeontology. 
Not only private gentlemen have given their time to the collection of speci¬ 
mens, but local societies have been formed for encouraging research, and 
founding cabinets of fossil plants. We can therefore hope soon to see our fos¬ 
sil flora in America as thoroughly studied and as well known as that of Europe, 
where this field of science has been ardently worked for more than a century. 
Among those to whom the survey is especially indebted for the communica¬ 
tion of valuable material used in the preparation of this Report, thanks are due 
to Mr. Jos. Even, of Morris, who. after the loss of his valuable cabinet by fire, 
has begun again his researches with renewed zeal and great success ; and to 
Mr. S. S. Strong, of the same place, who has most liberally presented the State 
Cabinet and myself with a large number of specimens of rare and new species. 
Messrs. M. Prendel and John Collins, also of Morris; Mr. M. S. Hall, for¬ 
merly of Wilmington, and Mr. Thos. Tijou, of Duquoin, have also furnished 
valuable contributions to this Report. As, moreover, the assistants of the State 
Geological Survey were instructed by the State Geologist carefully to look for 
and preserve specimens in their explorations, and as the Director of the Sur- 
,vey and myself worked hard in collecting specimens as often as opportunity 
permitted, the amount of materials which have been examined for this report, 
and which now mostly belong to the State Cabinet in Springfield, are exten¬ 
sive and of great value. 
