BUNTER SANDSTEIN. 



Fig. Gl. Bird-tracks. 



solid sandstone, sometimes white, but more frequently of a red, 

 blue, or greenish tint. The structure of the lower part is tolerably 

 close-grained, and sufficiently compact to form a good building 



stone ; but the uppermost strata are 

 fissile and incoherent, and pass into 

 an earthy clay containing gypsum 

 (plaster of Paris). The intermedi- 

 ate portion is compact, like the 

 lower, but its structure is that of 

 a conglomerate, and is used for mak- 

 ing millstones. In many districts the 

 Bunter sandstein contains numerous 

 remains of fossil plants and marine 

 shells, but the latter are rare and con- 

 fined to particular localities. In this 

 series are found foot-prints, (Jig. 61), 

 some of which evidently belonged to 

 birds, and others, according to the 

 opinion of certain naturalists, belonged 

 to marsupial mammals, or gigantic 

 batrachian reptiles. 



29. The sandstones and marls of this part of the series are 

 spread over an extensive tract of land in western Europe, more 

 particularly in France, and in south-western and central Germany. 

 On the right bank of the Rhine, in Swabia, there are some dis- 

 tricts in which the bunter-sandstein rests immediately on the rothe- 

 todte-liegende, the lower new red sandstone (Vosges sandstone) 

 being absent, and no other representative of the magnesian lime- 

 stone taking its place. 



30. The MUSCHELKALK (also called conchylian limestone, shell- 

 limestone) is a compact limestone of a grey or greenish-grey co- 

 lour, and commonly contains, in great abundance, the remains of 

 shells and fragments of radiated animals and fishes. Sometimes 

 the muschelkalk is a bituminous rock, and emits a fetid, disagreea- 

 ble odour when rubbed or struck with a hammer. 



31. Among the characteristic shells are the rfmmom'tes nodo'sus 

 (Jig. 62) ; A'm'cula socia'fis (Jig. 63). Possido'nia minu'ta (Jig. 

 64). In this stratum the Trigo'nia ('fig* 65) is first met with, and 

 species of it are found extending through various subsequently- 

 formed strata to the chalk. A great many Encri'nites are also 

 found, especially the species monilifo' rmis (Jig- 66). 



28. What is Burner Sandstein ? What animal remains do we find in the 

 Bunter Sandstein ? 



29. Where is the Bunter Sandstein met with? 



30. What is Muschel-kalk ? 



31. What shells are characteristic of the Muschel-kalk '. What are Am, 

 monites ? 



