128 Reviews—H. B. Medlicott’s and W. T. Blanford’s— 
tion quoted, is along an anticlinal or synclinal ridge. Peninsular 
India is in fact a table land worn away by subaerial denudation, and 
perhaps, to a minor extent, on its margins, by the sea” (p.v). This 
absence of evidences of disturbance in the Peninsular area shows 
that during long periods following the early Paleozoic times con- 
ditions of remarkable permanency and quietude prevailed. A similar 
condition of but slight, if any disturbance seems to have existed 
in the Extra-Peninsular region also, till the advent of the Tertiary 
epoch, but later on periods of great disturbance supervened. 
To turn now to the several formations, which want of space 
compels us to treat very cursorily, and to begin with the metamor- 
phic rocks—we learn from the Manual that, although no relations 
between the oldest Himalayan rocks of this group and the Gneiss 
of the Peninsula can be determined — no contact section of the 
two formations being known—a well-marked mineralogical distinc- 
tion exists between the two. ‘‘ The contrast between the Peninsular 
and Extra-Peninsular regions begins thus with the oldest known 
rocks; but it is evident that the limits of the areas were then 
different from what they subsequently became.” 
The Transition or sub-metamorphic rocks, which “consist of 
schists, slates, quartzites, breccias, limestones, etc.,” are stated to be 
of great thickness, and to occupy a considerable area, “but their 
history is as obscure as is that of the Gneiss. Two great sub- 
divisions are recognized, which are again divided into several groups, 
“distinguished as much by locality ” as by mineral characters. 
The first of these subdivisions shows partial metamorphism, and 
otherwise, also, a close connexion with the Gneissic rocks; it is 
therefore thought to be older than the other, which does not show such 
conditions. There seems very good ground for believing that some 
of the Transition beds were deposjted “previously to the last great 
disturbances that affected the strata of the Peninsula; whilst 
later beds, when tilted or contorted, are only affected within limited 
areas. Faults of considerable magnitude have certainly been 
formed at a subsequent period; but still the great lines on which the 
rocks of the peninsula have been moulded were more than traced 
before the transition epoch had passed away” (p. xx). There is pro- 
bably much truth in the statement that ‘It is far from improbable 
that great mountain ranges were formed in the Indian Peninsula 
before the dawn of geological history, as recorded by organic 
remains ; and that the small ridges of metamorphic and transition 
rocks now remaining are but the remnants that have escaped 
denudation” (p. xx). 
The principal representatives of the lower subdivision are the 
Bijawars, Champanir, Arvali, Malani and Behar groups in the 
Peninsular area, and the Shillong group in the Extra-Peninsular area, 
south of Assam. 
To the upper subdivision of the transition rocks belong the 
Gwalior Series of the North of the Peninsular area, the Kaladgi 
Series of the South Mahratta country, and the Kadapah Series of 
the Northern Carnatic, occupying three widely-separated basins. 
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