1815.}> On the Older. Floetx Strata. of England. 2S 
magnesian lime-stone of Derbyshire and, the North of England - 
belongs to this formation, 
Above. this. is, the. Lyas lime-stone enclosed, in a. bed of clay. 
This stratum abounds, in, shells. In this respect it agrees with the 
second floetz lime-stone of Werner, which is called in Germany: 
muschel kalkstein. It contains pentacrinites, which are considered 
as peculiar to this stratum. I have, however, found them in the 
oolite rock in Gloucestershire, but the Lyas is their proper abode, 
and they gradually disappear in the succeeding formations. It is 
here also that those large heads and bones are discovered which 
have been supposed to be the relics of crocodiles. They are 
of several species. The remains which Mr. Johnson, of Bristol, 
has collected, proves that some of them at least belong to an 
unknown marine animal. From the account which M. Cuvier 
has. given of the cliff at. Honfleur, containing the remains of 
crocodiles, I think it is highly, probable that it belongs. to the 
Lyas stratum. He mentions two species which nearly resemble 
the gavial. If any of your correspondents has seen the rock at 
Honfleur, and will favour us. with an account of it, which may 
enable us to ascertain its identity with the Lyas lime-stone rock, it 
will throw an additional interest;on these remains, All the. other 
fossils,occurring in, this stratum are-oceanic, among which are am-. 
monites often three feet in diameter. 
The Lyas formation is. very extensive in South Britain. It;is well: 
known at Lyme and,Chasmouth on the. south, coast, and:traverses. 
the island towards the German Ocean. Ihave been; informed that 
it occurs in Anglesea. 
. Above the Lyas is the extensive calcareous formation containing: 
the oolite or roestone. This cannot be, on account of its position; 
the roogenstein of Werner, which is subordinate to the second sand= 
stone, and therefore below. the muschel kalkstein, 
Above this several other rocks are enumerated by Mr. Townsend, 
which I have not traced, Over these is the upper stratum of) sands 
stone, which supports the chalk formation. 
On the whole, I think it appears that there is very little con- 
formity between the floetz series. of Werner and that which occurs 
in South Britain; but the older formations, as far as they are yet 
known, coincide with his system. We may observe that the tra- 
vellers, who in distant regions of the earth have been so powerfully 
struck with the conformity of geelogical phenomena with the ob- 
servations of the SaxonProfessor, as: Humboldt and Von Buch, have 
chiefly directed their attention to the older formations. I am not 
aware that any disciple of the Freyberg school has detected the 
succession of floetz rocks, as detailed by Werner, beyond the limits 
of Germany. 
But if we are to admit any reasons grounded on speculative 
geology, an universal conformity in the primitive and. transition 
formations is quite as much as can be expected. At the period of 
- the deposition of the last, the waters of the ocean are supposed by 
