196 H. B. Woodward and J. M. Blake — 



enumerated above belong to the former group. It is observable 

 also that if the affinities of the fossil plants placed under Athrotaxites 

 and Condylites have been properly ascertained, each of the sub- 

 tribes of the AhietinecB is provided with at least one representative in 

 the Solenhofen Oolitic Flora, — Athrotaxis belonging to the Taxodiece, 

 and Condylites most probably to the Cupressinem. It is further 

 also interesting to notice that in that case, besides an undoubted 

 species of Eutacta, we have from Solenhofen an additional link in 

 Athrotaxites to connect existing Australian living forms with, those 

 of the Oolitic age. 



II. — Notes on the Eelations of the Eh^tic Beds to the Lower 

 Lias and Keuper Formations in Somersetshire.^ 



By HoEACE B. Woodward, F.G.S., and J. H. Blake, Assoc. Inst. C.E., F.G.S., 

 Of the Geological Survey of England and "Wales. 



IT would at first sight seem superfluous that anything more should 

 be written upon the relations of the Ehsetic Beds in England, 

 for during the past twelve years they have received so much atten- 

 tion — the principal sections have been described, and the beds have 

 been well and successfully searched for fossils. But whilst there 

 has been no lack of petrological and paleeontological evidence, — and 

 we ought to be very thankful to railway companies in the western, 

 counties for opening up so many fine sections, — still it is somewhat 

 astonishing to remark, there has been and th-ere still appears to be 

 a considerable diversity of opinion on the subject of the relations of 

 the beds. Some authorities have placed them with the Lias, others 

 with the Trias; some regard them as quite an independent formation, 

 others as passage-beds belonging as much to the one as to the other. 



That the last-mentioned notion is gaining ground, we have no 

 doubt, and Prof. Eamsay's^ recent paper on the subject will have 

 done much to impress this opinion. 



Stratigraphical evidence ought to be sufficient to determine the 

 question, for when this is clear, palseontology must be subordinate. 

 Upon this point, in reference to Somersetshire, we propose to offer a 

 few remarks, particularly as certain statements of unconformability 

 have been brought forward, which have an important bearing on 

 the geological rank of the Eh^tic beds among the formations. 



To Mr. Charles Moore^ we owe the first clear exposition of the 

 Ehsetic beds of Somersetshire, and the illustration of their organic 

 remains. His classification of the beds has been generally accepted; 

 and although a lower junction with the Keuper, so as to include the 

 whole of the Grey marls with the Ehaetic series, has been adopted 

 by the Geological Survey,* this is a point of no great importance, 



1 This paper is published by permission of the Director-General of the Geological 

 Survey. 2 Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc, vol. xxvii. p. 189. 



2 Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc, vol. xvii., p. 483. 



* E. W. Bristow, Keport Brit. Assoc, for 1864; Geol. Mag., Vol. I., p 236. See 

 also W. B. Dawkins, Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. xx.,p. 396 ; Geol. Mag., Vol. I., 

 p. 2o7 ; Vol. II., p. 481. 



