Ixxvi DESCRIPTIVE KEMARKS. 
E. W. Binney, Esq., F. R.S., estimates the maximum thickness of the 
group in Lanchashire at 1,160 feet. 
In Westmoreland, strata ascribed to this formation by Sir R. Mur- 
chison, and Professor Harkness, F.R.S%., are stated to be of great 
thickness in the valley of the Eden. 
In Scotland Red Sandstones referred to the Permian series are 
found in Dumfriesshire resting unconformably upon Lower Silurian 
and Carboniferous rocks. Their lower beds are sometimes breccias of 
the underlying rocks, and in some of the sandstones abundant reptilian 
foot prints have been found. Similar Red Sandstones and Marls 
overlye the Coal of Ayrshire.* 
In the north of Ireland, at Cultra, near Holywood, on the south 
side of Belfast Lough, and at Tullyconnell, near Ardtrea, in the county 
Tyrone, there are small patches of Permian strata containing fossils 
similar to those of Durham and Yorkshire. 
It is the opinion of some of our leading Geologists and Palonto- 
logists that the Permian cannot be viewed in the light of a formation, 
but should merely be considered as a group rather than a system ; some 
authors would even consider this series of strata as a division only of the 
Carboniferous system of which great period it is evidently the natural 
termination. 
The Plants and Animals of Permian strata are of a decided Pa- 
leozoic type, and bear a considerable resemblance to those of the Car- 
boniferous group. The Pranr remains are but few in British strata. 
In other countries the Permian strata contain many more plants; in 
certain districts in Germany they are numerous, and the results of 
their examination by M. Adolphe Brongniart, Colonel Gutbier, and 
Professor Goppert, show that they are to a great extent composed of 
the same families and genera as those of the Carboniferous epoch, 
although only about eight per cent. are said to be specifically identical 
with Carboniferous forms. 
One species only, Vollzia heterophylla, is known to have lived on 
into the succeeding Triassic formation, or base of the Secondary rocks. 
The Corats (C@LenTerata) of the Permian are but few, only five 
British species being recorded by the authors of British Fossil Corals.+ 
Calamopora, Stenopora, and Alveolites of Professor King, they refer 
to the genus Chetetes ; the two other species are believed to belong to 
the Stauride. 
The EcuinopErmata are barely represented in these strata, con- 
sisting only of a few Crinoid stems and remains of Acheocidaris, a 
genus which first appears in the Carboniferous Limestone, being with 
Palechinus the earliest known representative of the modern Echinoidea 
or Sea Urchins. 
The Poryzoa, as well as the Corals and Echinoderms, bear the aspect 
of the Paleozoic types, Synocladia virgulacea, Pl. 42, fig. 1, a-c; isa 
* Jukes and Geikie, Student’s Manual of Geology, 3rd edition, p. 609. 
t+ Palzontographical Society, 1852. 
