Life of R. A. C. Oodivin-Ausien, 3 



tion of the Devonian System.^ This term was not however adopted 

 by Mr, Austen, which he states was " not owing to ignorance of its 

 value as a geological group, but because such a name is at variance 

 with the nomenclature of well-established groups, and because the 

 beds form only one portion of a great primary fossiliferous series 

 for which we already possess materials for subdivisions founded on 

 zoological views, which are preferable to geographical ones." 



The details of this complicated region in South Devon are de- 

 scribed in the most able manner by Mr. Austen. While noting the 

 connection of the numerous isolated masses of the Great Limestones, 

 he observed that in places they appeared to end abruptly, or to thin 

 away and pass into shaly beds. He concluded that in their 

 structure, as well as in the position, preservation, and grouping of the 

 corals, the calcareous rocks of South Devon afford abundant evidence 

 that their production was analogous to that of modern coral reefs. 

 More recent observations tend to show that many of the isolated 

 masses of limestone are separated by faults ; and this is conspicu- 

 ously the case with the Chudleigb Limestone, which, although 

 regarded by Mr. Austen as belonging to '■ the slate and calcareous 

 system " of South Devon, was, owing to its apparent intercalation in 

 the Culm-measures, placed with that group on the Geological Survey 

 Map. De la Beche indeed admitted the difficulties in the way of 

 such a grouping.^ When, however, we recollect the large areas 

 investigated by the older geologists, and that they commenced their 

 labours in regions about which little or nothing was previously 

 known, we cannot too highly estimate the work which they achieved. 

 And in South Devon nothing but a detailed geological survey on 

 the six-inch scale is likely to unravel the many intricate points of 

 structure, and settle beyond question the classification of the various 

 groups of rocks. 



It is intei'esting to read in this early paper, that Mr. Austen 

 noticed the association of human remains, " such as arrow-heads and 

 knives of flint," with other reliquige, in clay beneath the stalagmite 

 of Kent's Hole. Equally noteworthy are his suggestions that the 

 " Terminal Curvature " of strata and the Kaised Beaches, furnish 

 indications of a much colder period. 



Mr. Austen's attention was now directed to the geology of his 

 proper home-county, Surrey ; and for many years he resided at 

 Chilworth Manor House, near Guildford. 



In 1843 he communicated (in two papers) to the Geological 

 Society some general observations on the geology of Surrey, pre- 

 facing them with the remark — needful enough at the time — that the 

 Wealden area was not in its present state a valley of elevation, and 

 moreover, that those movements of the earth's crust, which were 

 thought to be confined to that area, could be traced westwards, and 

 evidently did not commence until after the completion of the lower 

 Tertiary series. These papers are of great interest as indicating the 



1 Sedgwick and MurcMson, Trans. Geol. Soc. ser. 2, vol v. At p. 651, assistance 

 received from Mr. Austen is acknowledged. 

 ^ Keport, pp. 74, 145. 



