Geinitz[1101], who first described fertile specimens of _Noeggerathia_, placed the genus in the Gymnosperms, and O. Feistmantel[1102] was in favour of this view. C. Feistmantel[1103], who described the small bodies in the sporangia, suggested comparison with Schizaeaceae, and Weiss[1104] discussed various possibilities, asking but not answering the question, are the so-called sporangia rightly so named or are they fruits? Potonié[1105] places the genus in the Cycadofilices. An important feature is the occurrence of the sporangia on the upper face of the bracts as in Lycopodiales and _Sphenophyllum_, but in other respects _Noeggerathia_ bears no resemblance to these two groups. Sterile examples of the genus are similar in habit to _Rhacopteris_, but in the latter genus the leaves or leaflets are laterally attached and not obliquely inserted. Further, we may assume that in _Rhacopteris_ the segments are leaflets of a compound leaf, whereas in _Noeggerathia_ they are probably single leaves. We must leave the position of this Lower Carboniferous genus undecided, merely expressing the opinion that it is perhaps more nearly allied to the Cycads than to any other group. [Illustration: FIG. 303. _Chiropteris Zeilleri_, Sew. [From a specimen in the British Museum (v. 3268). Nat. size.]] The plant figured by Lindley and Hutton from the English Coal-Measures as _Noeggerathia flabellata_, which some authors quote as a species of _Noeggerathia_, is generally recognised as a _Psygmophyllum_ and placed with some hesitation in the Ginkgoales. _Chiropteris._ This genus was founded by Kurr on a leaf characterised by anastomosing venation from Keuper beds near Stuttgart. A resemblance in form and venation to the leaves of recent species of _Ophioglossum_ led authors to suggest the inclusion of Kurr’s specimen in the Ophioglossaceae. We have, however, no justification for considering _Chiropteris_ as a member of this family; it may be a fern, and that is all that can be said. The leaf represented in fig. 303 is the type-specimen of a South African Rhaetic species _Chiropteris Zeilleri_[1106]. The genus is recorded also from Rhaetic rocks in Queensland.[1107] Newberry[1108] describes some leaves from the Lower Cretaceous of Montana as species of _Chiropteris_: one of his types, _C. spatulata_, is almost certainly a _Sagenopteris_, similar to _S. Phillipsi_ (figs. 327, 328) or _S. Mantelli_. A second species, _C. Williamsii_, is probably not generically identical with the specimen represented in fig. 303. CHAPTER XXV. Coenopterideae. ╭ I. Botryoptereae. ╰ II. Zygoptereae.