GENERAL RELATIONS OF ROCK GROUPS. 85 



of its representing Vertebraria indica of Royle.* Now Vertebraria indica 

 and Glossojoteris Browniana are tlie typical plants of the Bengal Damudas, 

 and vastly more abundant than any other species except a Thjllotlieea, 

 which is probably also identical with the Nagpur species. There is thus 

 a very marked resemblance^ if not absolute identity^ between the Kamthi 

 plants and those of typical Damuda beds. 



On the other hand, the Estheria of Mangli has been, by Mr. Hislop 

 (Jour. Bom. Br. R. A. S,, vol. vi, p. 301,) and for a time by myself, 

 considered identical with that of the Panchets. But the Panchet 

 EstJieria is not m. a condition to allow of its microscopical structure 

 being investigated an important point. Labyrinthodont reptiles have 

 been found both at Mangli and in the Panchet beds of Bengal, but the 

 genera are not the same. The known plants of the Panchet beds are 

 apparently without exception distinct from those found near Nagpur. 



To sum up. There being an element of doubt about the Estheria, 

 the only trustworthy connection of the Kamthi beds with any other 

 known Indian group is with the Damiidas, and consists in both contain- 

 ing the same fossil plants. But although the species are, in some 

 instances, the same, several are different, many of the most conspicuous 

 forms of the Damuda beds appear to be wanting at Nagpurf and others 

 are rare. Until the vast mass of plant-bearing sandstones in Rewa and 

 Sirguja are better known, it is difficult to say what the ultimate 

 classification of the difierent groups may be ; but meantime it appears 

 best to keep the Kamthis separate, both on economical and geological 

 grounds, from both the Damuda and Panchet beds. It is far from 

 improbable that they represent, in part at least, the Raniganj group of 



* I have perhaps had as many specimens of Vertebraria from the Indian coal-fields 

 through my hands as any one living, and I cannot reconcile myself to the idea of its being 

 a SpTienophyllum or any other fern. I have always looked upon V, radiaia of Koyle 

 as merely a cross section of V. indica, and the plant itself as a hollow stem with 

 radiating septa, Dr. Oldham and Sir C. Bunbnry are probably correct in considering it a 

 root. 



t For instance, Trizygia and Zeugophijllites. 



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