﻿G. A. Lehour — On the Terms " Bernician " and " Tuedian." 21 



after the lapse of many years, have adopted it, and I may add, that 

 it should have occurred independently to a writer in 1875 ; all this 

 is good prima facie evidence that the name has something to recom- 

 mend it. Before discussing its merits, however, it may be well to 

 consider what other names it was to take the place of. These we 

 may divide into two sets — A, those which have a lithological sig- 

 nification, and which only constant usage can make us tolerate, 

 and B, geographical names. 

 A. — Lithological names : 



1. Mountain Limestone. 5. Fnsiilina Limestone. 



2. Carboniferous Limestone. 6. Anthraciferous Series (in part). 



3. Sub-Carboniferous. 7. Carboniferian (in part). 



4. Productus Limestone. 8. Blue Limestone (Calcaire bleu). 



B. — Geographical name : 



1. Condrusian (in part). 

 Of the lithological names No. 1 is respectable by reason of its age, 

 but it is singularly inapplicable to the numerous districts where the 

 calcareous parts of the Lower Carboniferous are conspicuous by their 

 excessive thinness or even by their absence. No. 3 is usually limited 

 to America in its application, and would, I think, have no chance of 

 being naturalized with us ; besides, even American geologists while 

 using it frequently condemn the term. No. 5 is limited in its value, 

 as it can only be properly used in connexion with the presence of 

 Fusulina, and even then is decidedly a bad term, since that Fora- 

 minifer is now known to range into the Permian, if not higher 

 still. No. 6, including as it does large series of beds of doubtful 

 age, some of which are not Carboniferous, would, I think, find no 

 supporters, and although still much used on the Continent, is un- 

 known in England. No. 8 is again a French name, formerly much 

 in vogue, but as it is the most strictly lithological of the lot, it must, 

 I venture to say, be also the worst of all. Against Nos. 2, 4, and 7 

 theie is not much to say, their use is well understood, but the facts 

 yet remain, that the series is sometimes devoid of limestone, fre- 

 quently yields no Producti, and often contains no Coal. 



It is curious that as against the eight chief lithological synonyms 

 of Bernician, I can find but one geographical one which has ever 

 been in common use. This name, " Condrusian," was proposed 

 by Andre Dumont in or about 1843, and if equally good would 

 therefore have priority over Dr. Woodward's term. Condrusian, 

 however, was made to include a great deal more than the marine 

 Lower Carboniferous. It comprised Devonian rocks also, and the 

 Condroz, whence the name is taken, is now associated in the minds 

 of geologists more with the latter than with the former. Under 

 these circumstances, and considering also that the term was probably 

 meant as a strictly local one by its author, it will be well to place it 

 with the eight preceding names as being each and all liable to mis- 

 interpretation, although no doubt blind custom will perpetuate the 

 use of some of them — probably the worst. 



Having endeavoured to show the disadvantages under which 

 labour the rivals of " Bernician," it is time to consider the advantages 

 of that name. In the first place it is geographical, it is derived from 



