14 C. Lapworth — Classification of the Lower Palaeozoic Rocks. 



not far asunder, take their course different ways, and that Oardevi 

 (Read Ar-dhyvi — Transl.) in the British language signifies — Upon 

 the rivers of Devi — they have been thence called Ordevices. To 

 the Ordovices belonged those countries which are now called in 

 English by new names — Montgomeryshire, Merionethshire, Caer- 

 narvonshire, Denbighshire, and Flintshire." 



Here, then, have we the hint for the appropriate title for the 

 central system of the Lower Palaeozoics. It should be called the 

 Okdovician System, after the name of this old British tribe. 



Whatever arguments may be adduced in support of the term 

 Silurian will apply equally well, or even with greater force, to this 

 new title. Like the term Silurian, it is classic in origin, but at the 

 same time thoroughly British. It is equally euphonious, and far 

 more strictly significant of the geographical area where its strata are 

 typically developed. Indeed, the employment of the one title 

 almost of itself necessitates the adoption of the other ; for only in 

 this way is it possible to recognize the systematic equality of the two 

 systems in their very designations — the one receiving its name from 

 the ruling tribe in the south of Wales, the other from the dominant 

 tribe in the north. If there is anything specially becoming in com- 

 memorating the warlike tribe of the Silures in the name of a geologic 

 system, how strikingly appropriate is the title of Ordovician in 

 erecting a similar scientific monument to the last and most valiant of 

 the old Cambrian tribes. 



On this arrangement the Lower Palaeozoic Eocks of Britain stand 

 as follows : — 



(c) Silurian System : — Strata comprehended between the base of 

 the Old Bed Sandstone and that of the Lower Llandovery. 



(b) Okdovician System :— Strata included between the base of 

 the Lower Llandovery formation and that of the Lower Arenig. 



(a) Cambrian System : — Strata included between the base of the 

 Lower Arenig formation and that of the Harlech Grits. 



That our attempt to cut in this way the knot which all the schools 

 have already convinced both themselves and others of the utter 

 impossibility of untying, will do much more than draw the attention 

 of geologists in general to what we believe to be the more striking 

 aspects of the question, can hardly be expected. It is almost certain 

 that any suggestion that might have been made by either of the 

 schools with the object of freeing this section of the science from the 

 present dead-lock, would, as a matter of course, be opposed to the 

 utmost by the others. How much worse is it when the hint is given 

 from without. The great mass of the most influential of our living 

 geologists have so long since given in their adhesion to one or other 

 of the contending parties, that it is not improbable that our well- 

 meant interference will be stigmatized by all as a most unwarranted 

 and impertinent intrusion. 



By those, however, who are weary of the interminable discussion, 

 and who feel the necessity for some scheme of classification which, 

 while it systematizes the known facts, holds the balance true with 

 reference to the opposing claims of the two great pioneers in the 



