to the earlier or later Carboniferous strata, ought to receive an 
early decision. Prof. Dana says of the Asterophyllite family, 
“They are confined to the Upper Coal Measures.” If by this is 
meant the true Carboniferous in distinction from the Subcarbon- 
iferous, the remark admits of little discussion. In the true Car¬ 
boniferous, however, we are constrained by the character of the 
flora to refer at least the outcropping Coal Measures of Bristol and 
Newport to the earlier strata. Future research may show that 
the Asterophyllite family, however, appeared much earlier in some 
than in other localities, while in some places the conditions 
favored a much greater longevity of the species. 
The employment of various materials in the petrifaction of 
plants at Bristol and Newport possesses a deep interest. At 
Bristol, R. I., some of the specimens are laid in pyrites and 
are singularly beautiful. At Woods Castle, near Newport, many of 
the specimens are laid in white lime, and resting upon a dark 
background furnish specimens commanding universal admiration. 
The following is a resume of the Carboniferous flora of the Rhode 
Island coal area so far as they have come to our knowledge. 
Annular ia longifolia , A. brevifolia, Aster opJiy Hites 
grandis , A. equisetiformis, A. sublcevis, Alcthoptcris 
Pluckneti, Bornia radiata, Catamites cannceformis, C . 
Cistii C . Suckowii, Calamostachys preelongus , Cordaites 
serpens , C. Jimbriata, Dictyoptcris obliqua, Dicrano- 
phyllum , Hymenophy llites , Lepidodcndron aculeatum, 
A. dichotonmm , Lepidostrobus lanccolatus, Lepidofhyl- 
lum tumid unis JVeuropteris Agassizi, JV. Clarksoni , JV. 
desoriis jV. tenui folia , N. Loschii , N. vermicular is, JV. 
plicata, JV. Jimbricata, JVoeggerathia , Odontoptcris alpina , 
( 9 . Brardii, O. deformat a, O. Schlotheimii, Pecoptcris 
arguta , A*, arbor escens, P. Candolliana, P. Clarkii, P. 
dentata , / J . oreopteridis, P. ajfinis, P. nervosa, P. unita, 
Pseudopecopteris anceps, P. dimorpha, P. muricata, J y . 
Pluckneti , A*, spinulosa, IVlceophycus Millcri, Rha- 
cophyllum corallinum, R. Clarkii, Sigillaria reniformis, 
Spirangium mnltiplicatum, Sphenophyllum bifurcaturn, S. 
filiculmc, S. Schlotheimii, S. emarginatum, Sphcnoptcris 
