Geological Society of London. 331 



This agrees with the observation of the French geologist in Algeria. 

 The origin of the silicification of the fossil trees of the sandstone 

 deposit is discussed, and the action of water containing sodium 

 carbonate suggested as a cause. 



2. " Notes on the Geology of South Africa." By D. Draper, Esq., 

 F.G.S. 



The district here considered includes Natal, Zululand, Swaziland, 

 the S.E. part of the Transvaal, and the Eastern part of the Orange 

 Free State and Basutoland. Physically it comprehends : — 1. The 

 Drakensberg Range ; divided into — a, Mountain portion ; h, Hill- 

 covered plateau ; c, Highveld plateau : 2. The terrace along its foot : 

 3. The coast-belt. Their main features and characteristics are 

 described. The geological formations are : — 



if 1. Volcanic Beds. 

 -rj \ 2. Cave Sandstone, 



upper, j 3_ jjg^ gg^g_ 

 I 4. Molteno Beds. 

 / 5. Beaufort Btds. 

 Lower, i 6. Ecca Beds. 



I 7. Dwyka (Eoca) Conglomerate, 

 v [Bokkeveld Beds, wanting.] 



is. Gats Band (Zuurberg) Quartzite. 

 9. Dolomitic Limestone. 

 10. Table-Mountain Sandstone. 

 IL Malmesbury Schists. 

 12. Gneiss and Granite. 



No. 1 briefly noticed. 2. This caps the hills of the plateau 

 (1, h) ; and has yielded fossil fishes (described by Mr. A. S. Wood- 

 ward, F.G.S.) in the Orange Free State. 3. These are exposed in 

 the 0. F. S., at Harrismith, about 100 feet thick, and containing a 

 bone-breccia from which reptilian remains were described by Prof. 

 Owen in 1854. Northwards the Red beds change to a dark grit ; 

 and siliceous tree-stumps occur in the upper part. 4. These are 

 the well-known coal-bearing beds of the Highveld plateau (1, c) 

 and Natal, including the terrace (2) north of the Tugela River, and 

 Zululand. The lower 500 feet of these beds in Natal carry coal 

 better than that of the Highveld, but have been let down to a lower 

 level (about 2000 feet). In Natal they thicken northwards. On 

 the coast-line in Natal and Zululand portions are at a still lower 

 level and dip seaward at 20°. Anthracite occurs at St. Lucia Bay. 

 5. These form hill-side crags along the edge of the terrace (2) ; and 

 die away northwards near the Pongolo River. 6. The " Pieter- 

 maritzburg Shales " of Dr. Sutherland ; also die out northwards near 

 that river. 7. The " Glacial Conglomerate " of Dr. Sutherland ; 

 exposed in high crags in the deeper gorges of the terrace (2) ; 

 stratified and ripple-marked ; horizontal inland, but near the coast 

 dipping seaward with the overlying beds. A patch, much, rippled 

 and containing few pebbles or boulders, lies horizontal in the coast- 

 belt (3) of Zululand and Swaziland at least 1000 feet lower than 

 the main body seen along the terrace (2). No. 7 stretches from 

 St. John's River, through Pondoland and Natal to Zululand, thins 

 out and disaj)pears near the Pongolo. Intrusive and flat diorites 



