234 Reports t& Proceedings — Geological Society of London. 



Then follows a physical history of the region, as told by the rocks 

 themselves, from early Eocene times to the present. A." great uplift 

 and folding of the rocks took place in late Oligocene or early 

 Miocene times, followed by a comparatively short terrestrial epoch 

 A subsequent depression allowed of the deposition of Miocene and 

 possibly later beds. 



In what may be considered as recent ages the area has been 

 spasmodically rising. It is shown that the elevation of the near 

 Andes is a comparatively recent event. 



The series of rocks exposed propably attain a thickness of 

 5,000 feet or more. The whole is divided into four groups of 

 formations — Recent, Miocene, Oligocene (?), and Eocene, and each 

 of these into sets of beds. 



By far the most important of these groups of formations is the 

 Eocene, in part corresponding to the Tejon of the Coatinga district of 

 California. This yields abundance of fossils, and is the only series of 

 beds that yield oil. Eight palaeontological zones in this series are 

 established. About 150 species of fossils are recorded, of which the 

 larger proportion are probaldy new species. 



The origin of the petroleum is traced to animal organisms. 



2. " The Internal Cranial Elements and Foramina of Bapedius 

 granulatus, from a specimen recently found in the Lias at Charmouth." 

 By George Allan Frost, F.G.S. 



The specimen described was found near the formation known as 

 'the fish-bed', in the semicostatus zone between Charmouth and 

 Lyme Regis, and was embedded in an ovoid nodule of indurated Lias. 



Owing to the complete envelopment of the skull and its subsequent 

 pyritization, the bones and delicate interorbital septum are preserved 

 in perfect condition, permitting the accurate delineation of the 

 openings for the nerves. The bones appai-enth^ are completely 

 ossified, and the entire build is massive, the heavy outer cartilage- 

 bones receiving support internally from the well - developed 

 orbitosphenoids. The supraoccipital, which alone exhibits signs of 

 erosion, shows clearly the bony texture. 



There is no foramen in the parasphenoid in front of the basipterygoid 

 processes, as in Lepidotus. 



The basicranial canal differs from that in Amia calva, in its extension 

 to the rear of the skull, that in Amia ending in a cul-de-sac half-way. 



The third, fourth, and fifth nerves in Bapedius have their most 

 probable entry through u large median opening between the 

 orbitosphenoids, and not as in Amia from the basicranial canal. 



The opisthotics are stout and prominent bones, with an upward 

 inclination corresponding to that of the parasphenoid. 



The foramina for the optic and olfactory nerves are clearly shown, 

 the latter nerve having been exposed for about two-fifths of its course 

 across the orbit, thereby differing from Amia and Lepidotus, in both of 

 which it is enclosed in canals. 



There are two openings between each orbit and the nasal fossa. 



The basioccipital exhibits a small condyle on each side, and is 

 produced posteriorly in a process above the entrance for the notochord. 



