OF CENTRAL INDIA AND BENGAL. 207 



the Panchet rocks. And from these uppermost beds to the very lowest 

 beds of the system, so far as known, these Glossopteris remains continue 

 to appear. In the Panchet group a single species of Schizoncura is 

 met with, (apparently different from those occurring in the Damuda 

 rocks), and in the upper sub-division of the Damuda system this genus 

 is also largely represented ; but we have not seen it from the lower 

 group. Pecopteris, Sphenopteris, Phyllotheca, are also well represented 

 in the upper group of the Damuda system, but are almost entirely 

 wanting in the lower. We have not as yet been fortunate enough 

 to find any organic remains other than vegetable in these rocks. 

 The evidence seems, therefore, abundant to lead us to group all 

 these sub-divisions (" Raniganj," " Ironstone shale," and " Lower 

 Damuda") into one system, but not sufficient as yet to define 

 the epoch of this system. On the one hand it is connected by 

 the occurrence of a single genus of plants common to both, with the 

 Triassic strata of Panchet, on the other it is widely separated by the 

 general fades of its flora, which is far more abundant and varied, 

 as well as by the break in continuity of deposition. The Damuda 

 system is then older, probably considerably older, than the Triassic 

 epoch of the Panchet group. It exhibits a thickness of several thou- 

 sand feet, marked at intervals, during the tranquil deposit of this 

 enormous mass of material, by the successive growths of luxuriant 

 vegetation and thick masses of ferns and other plants. And it must 

 represent the lapse of a very long period of time, and great changes 

 in general conditions of the area during that period. 



I am, therefore, led to think from all this, that the "Damuda 

 system" of our Indian classification will be found to represent, (if not 

 in its entirety, certainly in part) the Permian period of European geo- 

 logy.* But I think further, that it will be found also to include a 



* The " Dyas" of Marcou. While fully appreciating the skill with which M. Marcou 

 has set forth his opinions, and while agreeing with him, as will be seen, as to the age of these 

 rocks, I do not adopt all his reasons for this proposed change of names. 



