178 
THE FAIRY-LAND OF SCIENCE. 
their whole lives in deciphering all the fragments that 
could be found, and though the section given in 
Fig. 49 may look to you quite incomprehensible, yet 
Fig. 49- 
L 
Contents of a coal-ball. (Carruthers.)* 
S, Stem of Sigillaria cut across. Z, Stem of Lepidodendron cut across. 
L', Stem of Lepidodendron cut lengthways. /, cone of Lepidodendron 
(Lepidostrobus) cut across. C, Stem of Catamite cut across, f, e, c, Fruit 
of Calamite lengthways and across. /, Stem of a fern with fragments 
of fem-leaves scattered round it The small round dots scattered here 
and there are the larger spores which have fallen out of the fruit-cones. 
a botanist can read it as we read a book. For ex- 
ample, at S and L, where stems are cut across, he can 
* I am much indebted to Mr. Carruthers, of the British Museum, for 
allowing me to copy this figure from his original diagram of a coal-ball, 
and also for giving me much valuable assistance. 
