282 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [DeC. 13, 



all I could learn, they are there similar to those which have been de- 

 scribed from other places. In other words, they are not cretaceous^ 

 but form the peculiar group in question. In this case, therefore, we 

 have simply the well-known Alpine order of nummulite limestones, 

 sometimes overlying neocomian and sometimes resting upon upper 

 cretaceous rocks, and surmounted by vast masses of " flysch," i. e. of 

 impure limestone with fucoids, sandstones, &c. There is, however, 

 in this section a feature which wholly disagrees with the physical re- 

 lations of Northern Italy. The gypseous molasse or miocene of the 

 authors is placed as an unconformable mass between the macigno and 

 the lower subapennine, and equally unconformable to both. I confess 

 that this feature is unknown to me in any part of Italy, and I believe 

 it to be merely local, because the authors themselves state that at 

 Ascoli the same formations are conformable. In regard to the mio- 

 cene and pliocene, the examples of a gradual transition from one to 

 the other are indeed without number, as will presently be noted. 



It is unnecessary to multiply examples of the superposition of the 

 chief mass of the macigno to the youngest secondary rocks or hippu- 

 ritic limestone of Central Italy. In following the upper road from 

 Rome to Naples, any one may rapidly satisfy himself on this point at 

 Ferentino, on the north side of which masses of inclined macigno with 

 finely laminated sandy marls, dip away from a boss of the scaglia 

 limestone and pass under all the younger and unconformable tertiary 

 series of the Campagna. The masses of macigno on the south-western 

 face of the great promontory of Sorrento, which forms the south side 

 of the bay of Naples, also overlie cretaceous or hippuritic limestones, 

 and the same order is seen in many tracts. 



It is probable that the best fossiliferous exposition in the kingdom 

 of Naples of both the upper cretaceous and the true nummulitic 

 eocene, is exhibited in the grand Adriatic promontory of Monte Gar- 

 gano, which it was my full intention to have visited, had the recent 

 political troubles not prevented me. The late Professor Pilla is per- 

 haps the only geologist who has examined and described it. But un- 

 luckily at the period of his visit he was not so well versed in strati- 

 graphical geology and organic remains as he subsequently became, 

 and I know from himself that he intended to revise his sections of 

 that great headland. In default of a personal visit I was gratified to 

 find, in the Royal INIineralogical Museum of Naples, so ably directed 

 by Professor Scacchi*, a very illustrative series of the rocks and 

 fossils of this Monte Gargano, the inspection of which left no doubt 

 whatever in my mind, that the order of succession is there the same 

 as that which I have witnessed in the Venetian Alps, the Papal 

 States and other districts. The oldest rock is evidently the com- 

 pact and hard white limestone with flints, and containing five species 

 of Hippurites, besides Ammonites and Nerinsese. Then follow other 

 beds, in which it would be presumptuous in me to attempt to decide 

 the exact order. One of these is a red breccia ; another is a peculiar 



■ * Professor Scacchi himself intends soon to visit Monte Gargano and publish a 

 detailed description of the order of the strata and their fossils. A full account of 

 this promontory will form a beautiful monograph. 



