Geological Society. 435 



of the older tertiary epoch. In the order of superposition they occupy 

 a place immediately below the ter'iary limestone next to be described, 

 which contains shells of existing Mediterranean species, and is hence 

 probably of much more recent origin. 



.5. The fifth formation is an extensive tertiary limestone, found both 

 north and south of the great central range. Its prevailing character is 

 that of a coarse, yellowish or wliite limestone, extensively quarried in 

 several places as a building material. Most of its shells belong to 

 species now existing in the Mediterranean, the most abundant being 

 Pectens and Oysters. The genera Caidium, Pechtnculus, Area, -with. 

 Echini, Serpulce, and Corals, are also very common. In the plain of 

 Palermo the strata are perfectly iXJtizontal; but in the valley of the 

 Oretus, where they lie close upon the dolomitic limestone, they are 

 considerably inclined, and are higher by 100 feet than in the plain. 

 A similar disturbance was observed at the Cape delle Mandre. At 

 the south of the central chain the tertiary tocks are still more dis- 

 turbed, being elevated to several thousand feet above the level of the 

 sea. The direction of these inchned strata is parallel to that of the 

 principal chain. 



6. The next formation is a conglomerate still more recent than the 

 upper tertiary beds last mentioned, and containing shells of species 

 now existing in the Mediterranean. Its character varies in different 

 situations, according to the nature of the rocks of which it is com- 

 posed. It may be studied as well on the north coast as in the valleys 

 to the south of the central chain, especially in that of the Limetus, 

 between Palermo and Catania, and to the south of Syracuse. Its 

 position, as well as fragments of tertiary rocks contained in it, prove 

 it to be posterior to these ; its sea shells attest its marine origin ; and 

 the perforations by Lithodomi prove it to have been covered by the 

 waves prior to its elevation. 



7 . Of the same age with the preceding conglomerate is the Bone- 

 breccia. Three bone-caves are enumerated by the .luthor as situated 

 in the immediate neighbourhood of Palermo. One of them, the Grotta 

 de San Ciro, about two miles south-east of the town, is situated near 

 the base of the magnesiferous limestone mountain of Grifoni, close upon 

 the plain of Palermo ; while the other two are in the mountain of 

 Beliemi, about four miles to the west of the town, at a considerable 

 elevation, being more than 300 feet above the level of the sea, and 100 

 feet higher than the cave at San Ciro. 



The breccia at San Ciro is not confined to the cave itself, but forms 

 a great part of the external talus, where it rests immediately on the 

 upper tertiary beds, and has a thickness of about 20 feet. The breccia 

 consists of numerous fragments of bones, with some rolled pieces and 

 blocks of limestone cemented together by a little lime or clay ; and 

 it has some appearance of stratification, indicative of a deposit from 

 water. The bones have been pronounced by Baron Cuvier to have 

 been those of the Klephant, Hippopotamus, and Deer, with a few of 

 a carnivorous animal of the genus Canis. 



The author infers from a careful personal examination^ that this 

 3 K 2 breccia 



