130 Reviews—H. B. Medlicott’s and W. T. Blanford’s 
been taken in unravelling a difficult tangle in the skein of Himalayan 
formations. 
The general plan of structure of the Western Himalayan region 
appears from the map to be really very simple: two great parallel 
eneissic axes, which run from north-west to south-east, bear on their 
flanks the Transition, Paleozoic and newer formations in approxt- 
mately parallel bands. The northern of the two axes, known as the 
Ladak axis, runs about 50 or 80 miles from the southern or main 
axis, which constitutes the Himalayan range proper, and is probably 
continuous through the unknown regions of Nepal with the gneissic 
axis known in Sikkim. In the space between the two axes is the 
Hundes and Zanskar synclinal valley, which contains a great series 
of marine fossiliferous beds, in which all the principal formations 
recognized by geologists are represented, except the Cambrian, 
Devonian, Permian and Neocomian. For want of space, the question 
of the correlation of these beds and the unfossiliferous rocks of the 
Infra-Blaini, Blaini, Infra-Krol, and Krol beds on the south side of 
the main axis, cannot be more than alluded to. Quite lately the most 
conspicuous of these southern formations, the Krol limestone, has 
been claimed by Mr. Lydekker as representative of the Pir Panjal 
limestone, which is believed on fair evidence to be of Carboniferous 
age. “If this conclusion be true, the Cis - Himalayan strata of 
Simla are probably, in part at least, altered Paleozoic marine beds: 
although the absence of fossils, and the great petrological differences 
from the trans-Himalayan formations, have led to the suggestion 
that the Blaini and Krol rocks belong to the peninsular type. No 
definite connexion with peninsular rocks can, however, be made 
out.” (Introduction, p. xxvi.) 
The correlation of the formations constituting the mass of the 
huge Himalayan Mountain region is ably discussed by Mr. Medlicott, 
who divides his subject into three sections treating of the Sub- 
Himalayas, the Lower Himalayas, and Central Himalayas respec- 
tively. His extensive personal acquaintance with these regions 
gives a special value to his opinions in disputed questions, of which 
there are not a few. 
A speculation of great interest, bearing on the former extent of 
the ancient Paleozoic continent of which the Indian peninsula 
doubtless formed a portion, deserves attention; it is put thus: 
“There appears some reason for inferring that the Paleozoic slates, 
sandstones and limestones, occupy hollows formed by denudation 
in the old gneissic rocks, and that subsequent pressure has produced 
the appearance of inversion” (of the gneiss over the younger beds). 
“Tf this be the correct view, it is probable that the Cis-Himalayan 
Paleozoic rocks are in great part of freshwater origin, and that the 
present crystalline axis of the Western Himalayas approximately 
coincides with the shore of the ancient Palzeozoic continent” (p. 
xxvii). A similar suggestion has been made with reference to the 
Salt Range by Dr. Waagen, that it represents a part of the former 
limits of the Paleeozoic peninsular continent. 
The great Gondwana system, the Indian Coal-bearing series, is of 
such interest that it might well receive lengthened notice, but space 
