1823.] the principal Mountain Chains of Europe. 149 



nodules of clay ironstone, and (carboniferous) limestone ; the 

 coal is mostly slate coal : there are numerous beds, and some of 

 very considerable thickness. 



(R.) Coal of Hungary. 



The lower series of our coal formations ; that is to say, our 

 old red sandstone and mountain limestone, are expressly, and by 

 name, recognised by Beudant, as reposing on both sides the 

 Tatra and Kralova mountains (a portion of the Carpathian chain) : 

 he refers them to the transition class, and describes them as grit 

 of a red or white colour, having a siliceous cement supporting a 

 compact limestone with nodules of chert. On these repose the 

 coarser coal grits ; then some beds associated with limestone, 

 and also containing traces of coal (which, however, from his 

 description, I should rather refer to the rothetodte series) ; then 

 amygdaloid and red grit ; and, lastly, the saliferous sandstone. 

 Coal is found at Balligorod and Rosocky, near Sanok. 



Another coal district occurs at Funfkirchen, on the borders of 

 Sclavonia ; it presents (beginning with the fundamental rock), 



1. Black limestone. 2. Coarse coal grit. 3. Slaty coal grit. 

 4. Shale and fetid limestone. 5. Carbonaceous grit. 6. Coal. 

 7. Several varieties of grit. 8. Greenstone. 9. Red grit. 

 10. Red porphyry. The latter beds clearly belong to the rothe- 

 todte of Germany. 



(S.) Coal of Russia. 



Coal or other bituminous formations are represented by Mr. 

 Strangways as occurring, 1. In the north of Russia near Yarousk. 



2. On the east reposing against the Ural mountains, near the source 

 of the Chusovaga. 3. In the centre of Russia, at Calouga and 

 Toula (where the great iron works are established). 4. in the 

 south, at Bakmont on the Donetz. 5. In the Crimea, and repos- 

 ing against the Caucasian chain ; but these districts have not 

 yet been examined with sufficient care to ascertain whether the 

 beds really belong to the true coal formation. 



{To be continued.) 



Article X. 



Proceedings of Philosophical Societies. 



ROYAL BOCIETY. 



Dec. 19. — A paper was read, On the Chinese Year, by J. F. 

 Davis, Esq. FRS. The introductory portion of this paper was 

 occupied, in proving that no scientific knowledge of astronomy 

 existed in China prior to that which was introduced in early 



