4 Rtv. W. D. Conybeare on a Geological Map of [.Tax. 



ratively low, the secondary formations (those at least which suc- 

 ceed the carboniferous series), are nearly horizontal, and appear 

 to have suffered little derangement, with a few local and limited 

 exceptions, such as are presented by the vertical chalk, &c. of the 

 Isle of Wight. The distinction, therefore, of inclined and hori- 

 zontal, or floetz* rocks, does not express any inherent character 

 in the rocks themselves, as deducible from their relative anti- 

 quity (any further than that the phenomena must induce us to 

 consider the primitive chains as the scenes of the greatest and 

 most general convulsions), but it depends merely on the circum- 

 stance of contiguity to the principal chains. 



On the importance of these observations to geological theory, 

 and the support they afford to the hypothesis of the elevation of 

 the mountain chains, it is needless to insist. 



I proceed to trace these principal chains in order, beginning 

 from the north. 



(A.) Finland and Scandinavia. 



These countries, though not included in the map, must yet be 

 noticed, in order to convey a complete idea of the chains bound- 

 ing the great central basin of Europe. 



They are almost exclusively occupied by primitive rocks, 

 among which gneiss predominates, and characterises the lowest 

 members. Granite is of less common occurrence, and alternates 

 with the gneiss. Mica slate succeeds, on which granite again 

 reposes. Transition rocks, principally limestone, containing the 

 same organic remains with that of Dudley, in Staffordshire, 

 skirt the primitive district on the southern shore of the gulf of 

 Finland, in the Baltic islands of Gothland, Oeland, and Born- 

 holm, and in the Scandinavian provinces of Gothland, Dalecarlia, 

 Nerike, Jemtland, and the vicinity of Christiania ; in the latter 

 locality, a phenomenon of the greatest geological interest occurs ; 

 for here the transition limestone is covered by old ? red sand- 

 stone conglomerate, on which reposes a porphyritic formation of 

 various character, passing at one extremity into decided granite, 

 possessing all the characters of that formation ; and on the other, 

 into basalt and wacke equally well marked. This repetition of 

 granite as a comparatively recent formation covering those of 

 transition, and its association with rocks, to which a great and 

 increasing majority of geologists (increasing, it maybe added, 

 with the extension of the science itself, and almost with its 

 existence as a science of accurate observation), concur in 

 assigning an igneous origin, is one of the most important facts yet 

 contributed towards the foundation of a secure theory. 



* It has been objected to my remarks on the term floetz, as synonymous with hori- 

 fontal, that it is really s3'nonyrncjs with stratified. I cannot, however, apprehend that 

 it is used in the latter sense by the Wernerians ; since in this case I must suppose them 

 to apply as a distinguishing epithet to the secondary series, a character equally belong- 

 ing to the majority of transition and primitive reels; an absurdity which I do not wish 

 l» iicpute to thstn. 



