﻿Reviews — Heer^s Primceval World of Switzerland. 85 



it is bounded by the Jura, and by tbe heights of the Cretaceous 

 rocks belonging to that chain. 



Fig. 5. Central Europe in the Middle Miocene Period (the Helvetian stage;). The 

 continents are white; and the shaded parts represent the sea. (Fig. 154, 

 p. 296, Heer.) 

 The following are the divisions recognized by Prof. Heer : — 



Upper 

 Miocene. 



I Upper Freshwater Molasse. 



< V. Upper Brown Coal-formation. 



Middle 

 Miocene. 



Lower 

 Miocene. 



( (Eningian Stage. 



! Marine Molasse. 

 IV. Helvetian Stage. 

 Subalpme Molasse. 

 Shell Sandstone. 

 f Lower Freshwater Molasse. 

 I III. Grey Molasse Stage. 

 I II. Lower Brown Coal-formation. 



Ijlquitanian Stage. 

 Red Molasse. 

 Marine Molasse. 

 (^I. Tongrian Stage. 



"Switzerland takes the lead of all countries in its abundant 

 deposits of Miocene plants. There are about eighty places in 

 Switzerland where Miocene plants have been collected." Of these 

 Monod has yielded 193 species ; Locle, 140 species ; Hohe-Ehonen, 

 142 species; and (Eningen, 465 species; 920 species of Miocene 

 plants are known to Heer from various Swiss localities. 



There can be little doubt that forests covered Switzerland in the 

 Miocene Period probably similar in character to those which clothe 

 the valleys of the Orinoco and the Amazon in South America at the 

 present day. 



Ctipressinea and Ahietinece are the two chief Coniferous families 

 which during this period composed so large a proportion of the 

 forest flora all over Europe. 



