208 



not having myself succeeded in re-discovering fossils at the locality 

 indicated. My scepticism was of course based upon the a priori con- 

 sideration of geological time ; and because, as I state at p. 105 of my 

 Memoir, no corresponding distinction has as yet been suspected by 

 the authors of the Fauna Sivalensis. I made due attempts to authenti- 

 cate the observation which I had called in question by referring to 

 the original discoverers ; as, however, in every reply I received, there 

 was some trace of ambiguity, not wishing to give further trouble to 

 my correspondents, I published the whole case in its unsettled form, 

 giving full directions for the application of the verdict on either side 

 (see pp. 15, 16, 104 — 6, of my Memoir). I have now the pleasure to 

 announce this verdict, and, notwithstanding the precaution I took to 

 provide for its application, the fact cannot well be stated without a few 

 words of explanation. 



In a letter dated the 16th July 1864, Sir Proby Cautley tells me that 



he has himself collected fossils on the north side of Nahun, i. e., in the 



rocks of my middle group, the same in every respect as those he 



had found more abundantly at the south base of the Sivalik hills, east 



of the Jumna. The peculiar mode of occurrence of these fossils in 



the nodular clays ('clay-conglomerate' of Cautley), as compared with 



those found in the coarse gravel deposits, could not escape observation. 



The former were all small and fragmentary. Large masses of the clay 



had to be carted from the hills and broken up at leisure in search of 



the fossil remains. I need scarcely, however, state that the Sivalik 



fossils have hitherto been given and received as one undivided fauna. 



Every one interested in these subjects will join in the regret expressed 



by Sir Proby Cautley that it is now impossible to work the question out, 



unless upon fresh materials. He informs me that the large collection 



of these smaller fossils, sent by him with the others to the British 



Museum, is now not to be found. 



