Fossils from the Hindu KhoosJi. 57 



Other Fossils. 



In addition to the species already enumerated we perceive 

 indications of other organized forms. 



1. There are, for instance, other species of Brachiopoda, too 

 obscure for identification. 



2. Impressions of what seem to be crinoidal joints. 



3. The frequent occurrence of Spirorhis as an adherent body. 

 This is similar to those occurring on fossils from the Upper Silurian 

 of Dudley, and also on Devonian fossils. Of. Kayser in Eichthofen's 

 China, Bd. iv, p. 95, pi. xi, fig. 2, under the heading Spirorhis 

 omphalodes, Goldf. ? 



4. The most interesting and abundant micro-organism is an 

 incrusting Coral or Monticuliporoid, often well developed on the 

 stem of CyatJiophylliim. The size and character of the mesh 

 resemble Monticulipora or Clicetetes, but as the substance is too 

 thin to bear cutting one can only conjecture its generic affinities. 



A growth apparently identical in form is quite common on Corals 

 from Dudley, and notably on a specimen of Thecia in my collection. 

 In the British (Natural History) Museum there is a specimen of 

 this incrusting organism on Spirifer plicatella. This specimen is 

 labelled Eeterotrypa, sp. (Allport, coll. D, 1752). The incrusting 

 body on the Chitral fossils appears to be the same. 



Conclusion. 



There can be no doubt that these fossils from Chitral indicate 

 the existence of a Devonian horizon in that region. The Brachiopoda 

 are unmistakably Devonian, whilst the Corals, if rightly identified, 

 point rather to species of Wenlock age. This difference may arise 

 from one of three causes — either (1) the identification of the Corals 

 is not wholly satisfactory ; or (2) the Corals may have been obtained 

 from slightly lower beds ; or (3) there is a mixture of Upper Silurian 

 and Devonian forms. 



It must be distinctly understood that no attempt has been made 

 to found new species. Identification, if only approximate, has been 

 my object throughout. In the case of the first Coral enumerated 

 (PI. II, Fig. 1), it belongs to a form-group which may be either 

 Silurian or Devonian, since we have the evidence of Edwards & 

 Haime that they were doubtful if a true distinction could be made 

 between Favosites cristata and \^Pac1iypord] cervicornis, the one an 

 Upper Silurian, the other a Devonian species. 



The existence of a Devonian horizon in Eastern and Central Asia 

 must henceforth be regarded as established beyond any doubt. 

 Probably the first notice of the occurrence of Devonian fossils in 

 China was given by De Koninck, who described a Spirifer and 

 a Bhynchonella from Yunnan.^ I have already referred to Davidson's 

 recognition of Devonian fossils from the Chinese province of 

 Kwang-si (near Canton). From south-western China Eichthofen 



^ Bull, de I'Acad. Royale de Belgique, 1846. 



