48 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 
Corals of various genera and species abound in the calcareous strata, and even compose entire 
beds. And Crinoideans were scarcely less numerous. Of Brachiopodous molluscs the genus Pro- 
ductus seems to be most abundant. As a group the fossil molluscs resemble those of the existing 
seas, far more than any that preceded them. 'The fishes of the period included Ganoids of huge 
size, of which the Megalichthys was one of the most extraordinary. 
Magnesian Limestone —This formation is also known as the Permian system, from Permia, in 
Russia, where it is extensively developed. It rests upon the coal measures, or in depressions in the 
earboniferous limestone. In England it is included as an upper member in the Lower New Red. 
In Germany, where it forms a more important rock, it is known under the name of Zechstein, and 
the lower beds, which correspond with the Lower New Red of England, are called rothe-todte- 
liegende. It is not known to occur in the United States. 
The fossils are not numerous, with the exception of fishes, of which there are some remarkable 
and characteristic genera. In England the first appearance of reptiles is observed in these rocks. 
Sreconpary PERIOD. 
Upper New Red, or Triassic System.—This system is known in England, but, like the prece- 
ding, it is more extensive on the Continent, where the upper portion is known under the name of 
Keuper. This is separated from the lower beds by a band of limestone called by the Germans 
Muschelkalk. The lower part of the system is called gres bigarré. 
In the United States the New Red occupies a portion of the valley of the Connecticut River, and 
extends through Connecticut and Massachusetts. It is found again in New Jersey, and extends 
through Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and terminates on Clay Creek, in 
Chesterfield District, South Carolina. 
It is very uniform in mineral character, being composed of a brick-red sandstone. _ It is inter- 
sected through its entire extent by trap dykes. 
The organic remains found are few—the most important, if we except the bird tracks, being the 
Ganoid fishes, discovered in the Connecticut valley. True heterocireal fishes are lost in the forma- 
tions above this. 
In North Carolina some beds of coal of workable thickness are found in this system, on Deep 
River. The beautiful encrinites moniliformis and ammonites nodosus are characteristic fossils of 
this system, in Europe. Reptilian footprints occur in England, and the remains of Rhynchosaurus 
and Labyrinthodon belong to the New Red. 
The bird tracks of Connecticut show very conclusively that birds existed during the deposition 
of these rocks. Some of these foot-prints were of enormous size, as mentioned in the preceding 
pages; and the bird to which they belonged must have been capable of a stride six feet in length. 
It seems that there yet exist some doubts in the minds of English Geologists, as to the age of the 
Yonnecticut Red Sandstone, 
Lias.--This and the succeeding group are included by the Geologists of Continental Europe, 
under the name of the Jurassic System. The rocks of the Lias are composed of beds of shaly 
and argillaceous limestones, marl and clay. 
Of European rocks this. group may be considered as among the most interesting to the Paleon- 
