Notices of Memoirs — F. Bitter von Hauer. 323 



These subterranean rivers are very characteristic of the "Karst" 

 district, being numerous here, though of course they occur elsewhere. 



Another feature of the district are the periodical lakes, e.g. the 

 Zirkinitz lake. ,In these cases after prolonged rain, or melting of 

 snow, the plain will be covered with water ; this is no mere over- 

 flowing, the water does not come off the hills merely, — it comes 

 mostly from below, either directly from clefts or welling up through 

 gravel. Our author explains the rise of water through the damming 

 back of the water from overfilled subterranean channels. The 

 description of the so-called " Doline " corresponds exactly with the 

 " swallow-holes " of N. England • they are said to be very numerous 

 in the Karst. 



The great absence of springs of water has caused this district to be 

 called the "stony Arabia of Austria." The inhabitants are mostly 

 obliged to rely on rain water collected in ponds, and sometimes have 

 to drive their cattle three hours to water. The parts covered with 

 hixuriant forest are just as devoid of springs as the rest of the 

 district, so that no mere planting would do any good. Artesian 

 wells are impracticable, owing to the fissured state of the limestone. 

 In fact it i& recommended to form proper reservoirs for retaining the 

 rain, water, of which there is a good supply, the annual fall being 

 4*42 cubic feet to the square foot of area on an average. E. B. T. 



4, GeOLO&ISCHB UEBEESICnrSKAKTB] DER (ESTERREICHISOHUNGAR- 



ISCHEN MONARCHIE. Blatt 8. SlEBENBURGEN. By FrANZ EiTTER 



VON Hauer. Jahrhuch der h. k. Geologi&chen Beichsanstalt, 

 Jahrgang 1873, Band xxiii. No. 1, pp. 71—115. 



THE explanation of Sheet 8 is divided into three parts, the three 

 mountain systems which surround Siebenburgen (Transylvania) 

 •being described separately. 



1. The Carpathians. — Crystalline schists are found in the Buko- 

 wina, etc., both micaceous and chloritic, and with quartzites. Some 

 beds that were formerly placed in this category have been shown to 

 be Trias., 



Of sedimentary formations the oldest is the Dyas (Permian), 

 consisting of quartz conglomerates and quartzites. These were 

 formerly mapped as Greywacke. Of the Trias the lower division is 

 represented by fossiliferous beds over 2,000 feet thick, and referred 

 to the Werfen shales and Guttenstein Limestone (Muschelkalk). 

 The Upper Trias is represented by various Dolomites and by Eed 

 Marble, with Ammonites Metternichii and globose species, probably 

 of Hallstadt age, as well as by shales with Halohia. The Lower 

 Lias is found near Kronstadt, and contains coal-beds ; then come 

 shales with Belemnites paxillosus ; further the red Adneth beds 

 (Upper Lias) with numerous Ammonites occur. 



Of the Oolitic rocks some of the upper stages, viz. beds with 

 fossils similar to those of the Stramberg horizon. Of the Cretaceous 

 several divisons occur. Lower Neocomian, shales and limestones 

 with Aptychus; Upper Neocomian; Upper Chalk, and Marls with 

 Belemnitella mucronata. 



