fore either lost species, or else such as inhabit the 
deepest recesses of the ocean, from whence they are 
scarce ever raised by the utmost violence of storms 
and tempests. 
In deep-laid strata of coal, slate, See. are found 
plentiful specimens of fish, Crustacea, plants, See. 
The most frequent, however, seem to be those of 
Ferns, of which a great many different kinds are 
observed ; some easily reducible to their archetypes 
or proper species, while others appear to belong to 
species either lost or still unknown. 
Among the most complete and curious specimens 
in the Leverian Museum, is that figured on the 
annexed plate, which represents in the most perfect 
manner the well-known European plant called the 
common male fern, ( Poly podium Jilix mas. Lin.) 
So extremely perfect is this fossil vegetable, that 
the fructifications are distinctly seen on the leaves 
nearly in the same state as in a dried specimen. 
To particularize the history of so well known a 
vegetable would be entirely unnecessary : it is suffi¬ 
cient to say that it is principally found in waste 
places, and by hedge sides, and is produced in most 
parts of this kingdom. The specimen is imbedded 
in a fragment of slaty stone. 
