GUIDE TO LOCALITIES. 45 



in English miles* from the same, and mention the formations 

 seen at each section. 



Paris forms an excellent starting point, as many of the most 

 interesting localities are within easy reach. If the Dover-Calais 

 route be taken on going from England, some forty to fifty miles 

 travelling can be saved by stopping at Creil ; several good 

 exposures exist near that place as will presently be seen. 



Topographical and geological maps should, of course, be 

 procured. First, as to the former ; those published by L. 

 Baudouin et Cie., 30 Rue et Passage Dauphin, Paris, are the 

 best. Scale s^;^ (about fin. to i mile), price, one franc 

 each. They are each named from the principal town or city in 

 the sheet, and include an area of forty by twenty-five miles ; each 

 bears a distinctive number. The following embrace nearly the 

 whole area of the basin, and certainly all the important parts for 

 the geologist : Rouen (31), Beauvais (32), Soissons (33), Reims 

 (34), Evreux (47), Paris (48), Meaux (49), Chalons (50), Melun 

 (65), Provins (66), Fontainebleau (80). If only the most inter- 

 esting portion, nearest Paris, is to be studied, Rouen, Beauvais, 

 Soissons, Paris and Evreux are sufficient for the Eocenes, and 

 Melun and Fontainebleau for the Oligocenes. 



The geological maps, to the same scale as above, are to be 

 obtained from Messrs. Baudry et Cie., 15, Rue des Saints- Peres, 

 Paris. 



A word or two as to the collection of fossils may be useful. 

 Strong calico bags of various sizes, but mostly large, say 1 2 in. by 

 7 in. to 7 in. by 4 in., are the best receptacles for fossils, and they 

 should be so made that the mouth can be drawn together and 

 tied by a tape. A brass ring sewn on enables several bags to be 

 threaded on a strap and carried with ease without fear of breakage. 

 Sift ! is the watchword in the Paris area, as the smaller species 

 of mollusca are always missed if this is neglected. Two wire 

 sieves, one sixteen meshes and the other eight meshes to the lineal 

 inch, are suitable. A hammer is not often required ; a pointed 

 trowel, with a blade 5 in. or 6 in. long, is exceedingly useful for 

 taking up the loose material. Some chip boxes, to hold the 

 rarer or more delicate species, should be provided. A written 

 label, tied to the ring of each bag, shows at a glance the locality 

 and formation of the contents. For the fossils of the Sab/es 

 Infiri:urs, some preservative, such as Potassic Silicate,t is required ; 

 or they may be brought away wrapped in cotton-wool, and sub- 

 sequently treated. But by far the greater number of the fossils 

 are in a magnificent state of preservation, and are easily collected 

 and carried without the least risk of fracturing them. 



Space will only allow us to name some of the more important 

 exposures in the Paris basin ; but none, however small, should 



* Three miles = five kilometres, very nearly. 



t " Water-glass" ; procurable at Messrs. Wilcox and Co., 239, O.vford Street, London. 



