32 H. J. L. Beadnell — Natures Rock-borings in the Fayum. 



"Were I able to compare specimens of the Lake Kivu reed-casts and 

 the Fayum perforations, and had I at hand the original notes which 

 I made when surveying the Fayum, I might be in a position to accept 

 or disprove Dr. Woodward's explanation without further consideration. 

 As it is, I venture to ask the following questions : — 



1. Would actual casts of the stems of reeds similar to those found 

 at the present day on the shores of the lakes in question show close 

 resemblance to the Fayum perforations? Do the latter exhibit traces 

 of the longitudinal striae or of the segment-rings which occur at 

 intervals along the stems? Both striae and rings are, if I recollect 

 rightly, very well marked in the semi-fossil siliceous reeds which are 

 occasionally found on (presumably weathered out of) the ancient 

 high-level deposits of the Fayum lake. 



2. Would not a true cast of a portion of a reed be of almost 

 constant diameter throughout, and is it not a fact that the individual 

 perforations in the Fayum rocks vary considerably in diameter from 

 point to point, showing concentrically arranged alternating ridges and 

 hollows ? My recollection that such is the case seems confirmed by 

 the illustration in the paper, though the appearance may, of course, 

 only be due to the concentric lines used for shading. 



3. Do the reeds taper gently at the root as do those of the cavities 

 of which the terminations are visible ? And do the latter show any 

 traces of the rootlets ? 



4. Assuming the above points can be satisfactorily disposed of, 

 does not the theory that the Fayum perforations represent reed-casts 

 absolutely depend on the truth of the assumption that the concretionary 

 and other blocks of sandstone, etc. (in which the perforations occur), 

 actually represent portions of the material which accumulated round 

 the bases of the reeds, while the latter were growing on the margins 

 of the modern Birket el Qurun or its predecessor Lake Moeris ? 



5. What, may I ask, is the evidence for such assumption? My 

 impression is that the concretionary and other sandstones and sandy 

 limestones in which the perforations occur belong to definite bands of 

 the marine Middle Eocene formation. They are certainly so referred 

 to in my memoir (see pp. 43, 71-3), ancl I am not aware of any 

 evidence having since been met with which would necessitate a 

 modification of this opinion. Dr. Andrews' statement "that the huge 

 concretions, or globular masses of sandstone — honeycombed with 

 vertical borings — represent in all probability the actual bases where 

 these reeds formerly grew", 1 requires substantiation before it can be 

 accepted as disposing of and replacing the above-mentioned view. 



Without in any way criticizing Dr. Woodward's conclusion that the 

 Fayum perforations are not the work of boring molluscs, I submit 

 that it is essential, before seeking to establish their identity with 

 reed-casts, to bring forward satisfactory evidence that the rocks in 

 which the perforations occur are of lacustrine origin, and not 

 weathered-out or exposed portions of the marine strata of the Middle 

 Eocene formation. 



1 See p. 401 of Dr. "Woodward's article. 



