The Devonian rocks in Devon, like those of the Old Red Sandstone of which they are the equivalents, have been divided into three groups. Mr. T. M. Hall, writing in 1879, quoted no less than five separate classifications suggested for the beds of North Devon, nor has uncertainty been removed by the conclusions arrived at by geologists since that date. But we may for present purposes take the following as the nearest approach to a generally accepted succession:—
While examining the rocks of the Middle and Upper series for fossil plants during the past eleven years (1907–18), the results of which have already in part been published, other discoveries were made incidental to the work of collection of plant remains. Among these the discovery of fossil fish remains seems worthy of special notice.