74 REPORT—1863. 
published last year by Olbers, of the Bohusliin district (within which Uddevalla 
is situate), accompanied by a short explanatory memoir. Professors Sars and 
Kjerulf have lately investigated, with their usual ability and care, the fossils of the 
corresponding formation in the Christiania district. Last year I had an opportunity 
of yisiting the so-called glacial formations both in Sweden and Norway, and of 
examining several collections of fossils from Uddevalla; and I now offer a list of 
the latter, in the hope that it may be useful to geologists. 
The Uddevalla beds which I observed were at Capellbacken and Lilleherstehagen, 
lying about an English mile from Uddevalla and from each other. I was struck with 
the variety of conditions which appears at Capellbacken, and in that place compared 
with the other. At Capellbacken was the solid rock, with Balanus Hameri (now an 
inhabitant of deep water) still attached to it; close by, a raised beach containing 
Littorina litorea, Mytilus edulis, and other littoral shells; and within the distance 
of a few yards lay a confused and thick mass of other shells, some of which (as 
Mya truncata and Pholas crispata) live within tide-marks, while others (as Pecten 
islandicus and species of Astarte) frequent deeper water. This assemblage seemed 
not to be different from the débris which would be cast up on a modern arctic 
beach. Scarcely any of the shells were broken or rubbed. Many specimens of 
Mya truncata and Saxicava arctica were perfect, and had the valves united, although 
the ligaments had disappeared. The Mya was not in situ, as I afterwards saw it 
at Tufve, in the island of Hisingen, near Gottenburg. Several of the species 
which composed the great shell-heap (e.g. Terebratella spitzbergensis, Lepeta ru- 
bella, Cyclostrema costulatum, Mesalia borealis, and Velutina undata) have not been 
found living south of the Arctic circle ; and as most of the other species are also 
inhabitants of high latitudes, it may be safely inferred that all of them existed in a 
climate similar to that of North Greenland or Spitzbergen. One exception, hows 
ever, is so remarkable that I will mention it, although not without considerable 
distrust. It is that of Cyprea hoida,a Mediterranean shell. Mr.'Thorburn showed 
me a specimen which he had found in the pe at Capellbacken: it had 
the semifossilized aspect of the other shells, and exhibited no trace of the bright 
gloss which characterizes fresh or recent specimens of this kind of cowry. 
The formation consisted of several distinct layers, and apparently represented 
many epochs and conditions. Some of the strata were probably elevated, and 
others depressed, at alternate periods and irregular intervals, but hy slow degrees. 
An instance of such a diversified and long-continued movement occurs at Capell- 
backen. There, within half an English mile of the little town of Uddevalla, is a steep 
and winding ravine, down which flows a small stream. The banks on each side are 
formed entirely of shells closely packed together, with but a slight admixture of 
sand. The lowest stratum rests on a rock of gneiss, and consists of a firm bluish 
clay, called by Swedish geologists “fucus-lera.” Dr. Torell informs me that it 
contains Leda (Yoldia) truncata, I did not observe any shells or fossil organisms 
in this bottom layer; but only a small part of it was uncovered, and not being pro- 
vided with workmen or tools, I could not ascertain its thickness. Over it was a 
bed of sandy gravel, with rolled stones or pebbles, containing Mytilus edulis and a 
small form of Saxicava arctica, This bed was about six inches deep and resembled 
araised beach, Judging from the angle at which it dipped, and from the nature 
of the superincumbent layer, I traced it for about 200 yards further up the hill, 
where it cropped out or came to the surface. The third or uppermost layer was 
the compact mass of shells above mentioned, comprising Mya truncata (var. 
uddevallensis), an unusually large and solid form of Saxicava arctica, Buecinum 
grenlandicum, Trophon clathratus (or scalariformis), and various other shells, 
besides innumerable valves of Balanus Hameri, with its operculum and plate of 
attachment. This great layer was from 20 to 30 feet thick in some places; and its 
summit is said to fe about 200 feet above the sea-level: the Swedish foot differs 
from ours in being only three-eighths of an inch less, At Lilleherstehagen, which 
lies about an English mile east of Uddevalla, another extensive deposit is partially 
exposed. Here the upper layer gives a singular result. Mixed with the universal 
Trophon clathratus (which is a high northern species, and found living only within 
the Arctic circle) are many shells of rather a southern type. Such are Ostrea 
edulis, Tapes pullastra,Corbula gibba, and Aporrhats pes-pelicani. All these species, 
, 
