278 M. Brongniart on the Cakareo-lrappeun 



epoch. The author remarks the presence of lignite frag- 

 ments and sulphate of strontian as points of resemblance 

 between the formation at Montecchio and that of the two 

 .following places. 



Monte-Viale. We here see in a very clear manner the 

 alternation of the brecciola and limestone ; but in certain 

 parts of this hill, the two rocks are, it may be said, placed 

 • separately, and the basalt forms a distinct group on the con- 

 fines of the hill. Fewer shells are found at Monte Viale 

 -than at Ronca, but those observed are of the same epoch. 

 The sulphate of strontian which sometimes fills the cavities 

 of these shells, is a more striking fact here than at Mon- 

 tecchio ; and the lignite, which occurs here in thin beds, 

 contains the remains of fish. These circumstances lead to 

 the determination pf the epoch of the fifth and most cele- 

 brated place. 



; 5. Monte-Bolca. The trappean and calcareous rocks still 

 alternate here in an evident manner ; but this alternation 

 takes place in such considerable masses, that it sometimes 

 escapes our attention; the limestone predominates; it ap- 

 pears removed from the calcaire grossier by its compact 

 texture and fissile structure, but these are only mineralogical 

 differences, which should yield to the geological relations 

 derived from the union of all the other circumstances, and 

 especially the presence of organic remains, such as the num- 

 niulites, some shells of the genus avicula, the fish that 

 before appeared at Monte-Viale, the various plants, prin- 

 cipally terrestrial, and all dicotiledons, the subordinate 

 lignites, and the absence of any organic remain that would 

 indicate a more ancient formation. 



It results from these comparative descriptions, rendered 

 more clear by sectipns of the rocks and figures of the fossils ; 



1st. That these five places, at no great distance certainly 

 from each other, belong to the same epoch of formation, and 

 that other places should be added to them, such as Monte 

 Glosso, to the W. of Bassano, which the author has also 

 yisited, as also the Val-Sangonliii in the Bragonza, Castel 



I 



