644 
Mr. Lonsdale, seems to be one of the most valuable documents yet 
presented to our consideration, in leading us to view the palzozoic 
rocks as a great tripartite series composed of the Carboniferous, De- 
vonian, and Silurian systems. 
Further, I would specially draw your attention to the enlarged 
views of our French coadjutors, derived from extensive study,in which 
they estimate the relative increase and decrease of various genera 
and species of fossils in the three divisions of the earlier periods, 
and show that whilst a few species (twenty only in upwards of 2750 
distinct species or well-marked varieties) range throughout the tri- 
partite series, yet that each system has a distinctly typical fauna, whe- 
ther we derive our conclusions from researches in our own parts of 
Europe, or from an examination of American and Russian forms*. 
Whilst speaking, however, of this table, I must at the same time 
do justice to one of our own countrymen, Mr. Austen, the value 
of whose researches in Devonshire you have had previous oppor- 
tunities of estimating. I have recently seen a MS. table prepared 
some time since by this able geologist, but the use of which he 
has liberally granted to Mr. Morris, who is preparing that general 
synoptical view of British organic remains, the publication of which 
you have resolved to encourage ft. 
In remote countries, the palzeozoic classification of Silurian, De- 
vonian, and Carboniferous types has been extended, by my com- 
panions and myself, from Russia in Europe into Asia, and, may I 
add, that an inspection of some fossils of the far-distant Altai leads 
me to conclude that the examination of that chain will afford the 
same results? Though our own naturalists have not yet penetrated 
to Pekin, the Russian Major of Engineers, Kovanko, has acquainted 
us with the existence of an extensive coal-field not far from that 
metropolis{ ; and if time and the wear and tear of life permit, I 
despair not of planting the Silurian standard on the wall of China, 
by approaching it through the country of our old allies. 
Again, Southern Africa and the South Seas have afforded their 
quota of Silurian fossils, but above all other foreign countries, North 
America appears to be rich in rocks of the same age. Of this fact 
indeed the Geological Society received the clearest evidence in the 
excellent section of Mr. James Hall, and the fine suite of organic 
remains which accompanied it§. We have thus the most convincing 
* M. de Verneuil has, with my full consent, enriched this general table 
of comparison by the addition of the names of all.the new species and 
characteristic paleozoic types collected in our two visits to Russia, and 
the description of which we are now preparing.—March 1842. 
+ See previous account of the Award of the Wollaston Fund, p. 635, 
+ Journal des Mines de Russie, 1838, p. 191. 
§ Geological Proceedings, vol. iii. p.416. I was very much struck with 
the clear, unpretending, and workmanlike manner in which Mr. J. Hall 
had the kindness to communicate his views to myself, respecting the Si- 
lurian and other paleozoic rocks of the United States, in the letter which 
was read to the Society; and 1 am glad to find that this able geologist 
has been of great service to Mr. Lyell in his present tour in America, Mr. 
