WICHITA FORMATION OF NORTHERN TEXAS 129 



very varied brachiopod fauna described by Tschernyschew from the 

 Gschel but a small number of species appear to pass over into the 

 Artinsk, and I infer that much the same is true of other groups. 

 Both for this reason and because the Artinsk seems to introduce 

 a new "cycle of deposition," I would be disposed to group the 

 " Permo-Carbonif erous " with the beds above rather than the beds 

 below, not feeling, however, that my opinion on this point deserves 

 much weight. 



Now, while there may be diversity of opinion about grouping 

 together the "Permo-Carbonif erous" and Permian, all must agree 

 that it is bad usage to employ the name Permian in two different 

 senses, especially for the whole and at the same time for a part. 

 Although the question is international as well as national, the 

 proposition to remedy the present unfortunate condition would 

 come with greater force and propriety from European writers. 

 To me, personally, it is naturally a matter of indifference whether 

 the term Permian is used for the series and a new name introduced 

 for the beds above the "Permo-Carbonif erous," or used for the 

 beds above the "Permo-Carboniferous" and a new name intro- 

 duced for the series. 1 The former alternative has in its favor 

 the fact of perhaps greater usage; the latter, that it is the original 

 and authoritative usage. I cannot believe that the unscientific 

 procedure of employing the term in two senses will continue 

 indefinitely, and consequently whatever we now do, short of the 

 fundamental courses just named, must be more or less of a make- 

 shift. It does not, perhaps, make much difference which method 

 is adopted in this provisional manner, but as the main object is 

 to be clear and exact, it has to me seemed the better plan to use 

 Permian in the original and authentic sense. 



It seems to me obvious that the Artinskian and Permian should 

 be assembled under one division or separated into several, entirely 

 as the sum of the evidence from all sources dictates. I have not 

 the personal acquaintance with the beds, their faunas and floras, 

 their field relations, etc., which would entitle me to an opinion of 

 my own as to how they should be classified. It seems to be a moot 



1 Possibly some older name could be revived for the Permo-Carboniferous and 

 Permian, such as Dyas, as suggested by David White. 



