452 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1897. 



Ossa, Ochansk, Sarapoul, etc., and disappears finally further down 

 near Elabouga. 



The middle stage of the Permian (P 2 ) is composed of limestones, 

 dolomites and gray clay marls, and contains the organic remains 

 characteristic of the Zechstein of Germany. It crops out in incom- 

 plete sections in the banks of the Kama, between its confluence with 

 the Ij and its confluence with the Volga. At Elabouga the bed P 2 

 is seen lying on the lower stage ~P\. 



The upper stage P 3 or PT is seen between Sarapoul and the 

 nearest confluent of the Kama to the south 9 covering occasionally 

 the middle stage. It consists principally of clays and marls of a 

 variously tinted red, alternating with beds of white, greenish or 

 gray color. Organic remains (conchifers) are very rare. 



The post-pliocene deposits which crop out in the banks of the 

 Kama are represented partly by a fluviatile terrace, and partly by 

 sediments deposited in the Caspian basin of this period : or, to be 

 more accurate, in the series of lakes which were in communication 

 with that basin. These deposits crop out between Tchistopol and the 

 mouth of the river, by preference on the left bank. The post-plio- 

 cene terrace is composed of yellowish brown clays with which sands 

 are oftentimes associated. The Caspian beds though nearly of 

 the same nature as those of the post-pliocene terrace are more 

 sandy. These beds contain the remains of mollusks still living in the 

 east of Russia. The fresh or brackish water forms are often accom- 

 panied by Caspian marine forms. Here and there in the post-plio- 

 cene deposits, bones of the Mammoth, and other animals of that 

 epoch are found. Not very long since a tolerably complete skeleton 

 of a young mammoth was discovered on the right bank of the Kama 

 above Laichew. Below this town and near the confluence of the 

 Volga and Kama isolated bones of post-pliocene mammals have 

 frequently been seen. 



In that part of the Volga between the Kama and Nijni-Novgorod, 

 and for a considerable distance above and below these points, 

 travellers have invariably been struck by the great difference between 

 the two banks. Except in a few localities where the river is con- 

 siderably deflected to the left (i. e. E [?])the right bank presents a 

 continuous succession of escarpments and outcrops of rock in place. 

 The left bank, on the contrary, forms an alluvial valley, which, 



9 M. Stuckenberg says: " Entre Sarapoul et le confluent de la Kama." 

 L. G. XI. 2. 



