419 



gerfield, Capt. Coulthard, Major Franklin, Dr.Voysey, and Mr. Calder, 

 the continuous trap region would appear to occupy an area of from 

 200,000 to 250,000 square miles ; and from the observations of 

 the Rev. Mr. Everest, Mr. Royle, Mr. Babington, Mr. Calder, and 

 Dr. Voysey, it may ultimately be found that the ramifications extend 

 eastward to the Rajmahl trap-hills on the Ganges, and southward 

 through Mysore to the extremity of the peninsula. With respect to 

 the age of this formation, Major Franklin states, that in Bundelkhund 

 it rests on a sandstone which he considers identical with the new red 

 sandstone of Europe : the trap would therefore be posterior to the 

 carboniferous series, and belong to the supermedial order. But the 

 Rev. Mr. Everest adduces valid reasons for questioning the correct- 

 ness of Major Franklin's opinion, and it would consequently be idle 

 to speculate on an era without sufficient data to assist in determining 

 the question. The author suggests the manner of the formation of 

 the horizontal beds of basalt and amygdaloids, with their parallel, 

 superior, and inferior planes and vertical edges, as a subject of curious 

 and interesting speculation. 



From the observations of Mr. Calder, the Rev. Mr. Everest, Mr. 

 Stirling, Dr. Davy, and the author, the laterite formation is found to 

 extend for several hundred miles, with few interruptions, along both 

 shores of the peninsula, and into Ceylon. Ample evidence is given 

 of the occurrence of nodular and pulverulent lime all over Dukhun 

 and Hindoostan. With respect to granite and gneiss, Dr. Voysey 

 collected facts which led him to believe that these rocks constituted 

 the basis of the whole peninsula, and, on this belief, must occupy an 

 area, roughly calculated, of about 700,000 square miles. 



The author is not aware of the occurrence of sedimentary rocks in 

 Western India south of Baroach, excepting such as may have resulted 

 from the consolidation of comparatively recent alluvium. 



Finally, the author considers the characteristic geological features 

 of the peninsula to consist in the amazing extent of the trap, and 

 the horizontal position of its stratified beds ; in the granitic basis of 

 the whole country ; in the existence of trap veins in granite ; the 

 absence, as far as is at present known, of that uniform series of rocks 

 constituting the formations of Europe ; in the extended and peculiar 

 nodular limestone and laterite formations ; the occurrence of pulve- 

 rulent lime in seams ; and in the non-discovery hitherto of the fossil 

 remains of extinct animals. 



The memoir was accompanied by a coloured map, two sections of 

 the country, several sketches of its physical features, and numerous 

 rock and mineral specimens. 



A letter was afterwards read, addressed to the Rev. Prof. Buckland, 

 D.D. V.P.G.S. by Joshua Trimmer, Esq. F.G.S., respecting the dis- 

 covery of marine shells of existing species on the left bank of the 

 river Mersey, and above the level of high-water mark. 



Mr. Trimmer, in a recent visit to Runcorn, discovered, in a low 

 tract of country on the bank of the Mersey, a section about twenty 

 feet thick, which presented the following series of beds : — 



