International Geological Congress at Bologna. 233 



2. The Unification of Geological Nomenclature : to consider all 

 matters relating to stratigraphical classification and nomenclature, 

 and so far involving an inquiry into the value and significance of 

 petrological and palaeontological characters. Prof. T. M'K. Hughes 

 was appointed the Commissioner on the Unification of Geological 

 Nomenclature for Great Britain, and he was requested to organize a 

 Committee to report upon the different Geological subdivisions, and 

 on the various details bearing upon the questions of classification and 

 nomenclature. Acting in conjunction with Prof. Prestwich, he has 

 accordingly formed a Committee which has met on several occasions 

 in London. 



The matters at present discussed have been the definition of the 

 terms : — System, Formation, Terrane, Deposit, Bed, Layer, Rock, 

 Group, Series, Zone, Horizon, Period, Age, Epoch, Era, Time, Cycle, 

 Date, etc. The organization of Sub-committees has also been carried 

 on, and one or more Reporters have been attached to each (after the 

 plan adopted by Committees of the British Association), to collect 

 the information from the several members composing it, and to draw 

 up the Reports. The following Reporters were appointed : — Com- 

 mittee to consider Hecent and Tertiary, J. Starkie Gardner and 

 H. B. Woodward ; Cretaceous, W. Topley and A. J. Jukes-Browne ; 

 Jurassic, W. H. Hudleston and the Rev. J. F. Blake ; Tricts and 

 Permian, C. E. De Ranee and the Rev. A. Irving ; Carhoniferoua, 

 Devonian, and Old Red Sandstone, G. H. Morton and A. Strahan ; 

 Silurian, Cambrian and Pre- Cambrian, C. Lap worth and J. E. Marr; 

 Petrology and Mineral Veins, H. Bauerman and T. Davies. 



The duty of the Sub-committees will be (1) To draw up a list of 

 the names now in use for each formation, and for its subdivisions ; 

 (2) To ascertain the true significance of such names or terms, giving 

 reference to the authors by whom they were used in the first instance, 

 or subsequently with a modified meaning; (3) To investigate the 

 synonymy of the names, firstly in regard to the British rocks, and 

 afterwards in regard to equivalent beds in foreign countries ; (4) To 

 offer suggestions for the unification of the Nomenclature. 



Through the liberality of His Majesty the King of Italy, the 

 Italian committee of organization are able to oifer a prize of 5000 

 francs for the best sug-g-estion for an international scale of colours 

 and conventional signs practically applicable to geological maps and 

 sections, including those of small scale. The index of colours and 

 signs should be accompanied by maps representing regions of varied 

 geological structure, and by an explanatory memoir in the French 

 language. The documents should be marked with a motto, which 

 should be placed on the outside of an envelope containing the name 

 of the author, which will not be opened until the Congress, when 

 the name of the successful competitor will be made known. The 

 index and accompanying papers should be sent in to Prof. J. 

 Capellini, Director of the Museum at Bologna, by the end of May. 

 The award will be made by a jury of five chosen from the presidents 

 of sub-commissions. Should no index be thought worthy of tlie 

 grand prize, the best will receive a gold medal of the value of lOUO 



