1862.] JONES FOSSIL estheel^:. 149 



The absence of Estlierice in the Rhsetic beds (or Avicula contorta 

 zone) of Germany is coincident, apparently, with their more decidedly 

 marine character ; more constant marine conditions, perhaps, having 

 obtained during the Upper Triassic period in that area than in the 

 "Western European region. 



7. Estheria Mangaliensis, Jones. — At Mangali in Central India, 

 about sixty miles south of Nagpur, the Rev. Messrs. 8. Hislop and 

 R. Hunter discovered in 1853 a fossiliferous, brick-red, laminated 

 sandstone*, which contains remains of Plants, of Ganoid Fishes, and 

 of Labyrinthodont Reptiles {Brachyops laticeps, Owen), and wide- 

 spread thin layers of Estlierice. These, though of various sizes and 

 somewhat different outlines, are all referable to one species, condi- 

 tions of growth being sufficient, in my opinion, to account for all the 

 seeming varieties. This Estheria (E. Mangaliensis) is not without 

 close alliances (as far as the carapace is concerned) to other species, 

 fossil and recent, as is generally the case ; but it gives no direct 

 evidence as to its geological horizon. The Geological Surveyors of 

 India seem inclined to regard the Mangali beds as of Upper Palaeo- 

 zoic age, — with doubts in favour of its Triassic relationship. Mr. 

 Hislop used to think that it was Lower Jurassic, but now believes 

 it to be Upper Triassic ; and I am much inclined to this opinion. 



The absence of marine remains in the Plant-bearing and Reptili- 

 ferous sandstone of Mangali goes far to indicate the freshwater 

 habitat of the Esther ice f which it so abundantly contains. Another 

 locality for Estlierice in Indian strata of approximately the same age 

 has been found by Mr. W. T. Blanford near Pa'cheet in Bengal. 

 Dr. T. Oldham kindly sent me a sample of this Estherian shale ; but 

 I cannot say more than that this Estheria seems to be the same as 

 the smaller specimens from Mangali. 



8. Estheria Kotahensis, Jones, is from Kotah (or Kota) on the 

 River Pranhita, Central India, and was found by Mr. Hislop in a 

 shale occupying a relatively higher geological place than E. Manga- 

 liensis, and regarded by him, probably with reason, as of Lower 

 Jurassic age. It is more nearly allied in some respects to the 

 Wealden Estlierice than to that from Mangali. Ganoid Pishes 

 (Lepidotus Deccanensis), Cypridce (Candona Kotahensis, Jones), In- 

 sects, an obscure Unio-like shell, and some Plant-remains accom- 

 pany this Estheria ; and other remains of Plants (Perns), Fishes 

 {Lepidotus and ^Echmodus), and Reptiles (Teleosaurus) are found in 

 the associated limestone and bituminous shales. Similar strata with 

 Fish-remains and Estlierice have been discovered by Mr. Hislop at 

 Katanapali, fifteen miles north of Kota. 



None of the organic remains yielded by these Estherian beds have 

 marine characters, the fishes being excluded as doubtful witnesses. 



The accompanying Table shows the probable correlation of the 

 Estherian and Plant-bearing strata of Central and North-eastern 

 India : — 



* Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. vol. xvii. p. 347. 



