During the long course of time embraced in this age, the forms
of life present wide differences from those of
existing time.

This period produced the great beds of coal we use to-day.
But the vegetation of the coal period would present strange
features to our eyes. The vegetation commenced with the lowest
orders of flowerless plants, such as sea-weeds; but, before it
was brought to a close, there was a wonderful variety and
richness of plants of the flowerless or Cryptogamic division.
In some of the warmest portions of the globe, we have to-day
tree-ferns growing four or five feet high. During the closing
part of the Paleozoic time, there were growing all over the
temperate zone great tree-ferns thirty feet or so in height.
Some varieties of rushes in our marshes, a foot or two in
height, had representatives in the marshes of the coal period
standing thirty feet high, and having woody trunks.<7> Near the
close of the Paleozoic time, vegetation assumed a higher form of
life. Flowering plants are represented. Pines were growing in
the coal measures.

In animal life a similar advance is noted. The class of animals
having no backbone, or invertebrate animals, were largely
represented. But, toward the close of the Paleozoic time, we
meet with representatives of the backbone family. The waters
swarmed with fishes.<8> Besides these, there were amphibians;
<9> and reptiles in the closing portions.<10>

Illustration of The Pterodactyl.--------------