TRANSLATIONS AND NOTICES 



GEOLOGICAL MEMOIRS. 



1. Remarks on the Molluscous Animals of South Italy, in 

 reference to the Mollusca of the Tertiary period. By Dr. A. 

 Philippi. 



Continued from Quart. Geol. Journ. vol. i. p. 111. 



(From * Erichson's ArcMvfur NaturgescMchtey* lOter Jahrgang, ler Bd. p. 348.) 



In the previous part of this memoir we have brought under com- 

 parison the Faunas of different seas with the marine molluscous 

 fauna of South Italy, and have also grouped together those Mediter- 

 ranean species which are most widely extended. If now, in the next 

 place, we compare the existing fauna of the Sicilian seas with the 

 inhabitants, during the tertiary period, of that sea whose elevated 

 bed now forms the greater part of Sicily and Calabria, several pro- 

 blems of great interest and importance are suggested for investiga- 

 tion, and to these therefore we will next turn. The most import- 

 ant of these are: — 1. Whether during the tertiary period the seas 

 were greatly more or less rich in mollusca than they are at present? 



2. How many species still met with were then in existence, having 

 withstood the catastrophes which separated the former from the 

 present condition of things? and how many species were destroyed 

 by these catastrophes ? 3. With regard to those species common to 

 both periods, to what extent are these differences observable, whether 

 as to relative abundance, difference of size, or other peculiarities? 

 and how far are these differences important in themselves, although 

 not sufficient to justify a specific distinction ? 4. With regard to the 

 localities of fossils, what relation have they to one another ? Are the 

 deposits all of the same age ? or do the tertiary formations of South 

 Italy admit of subdivisions? and 5. In what relation do the South 

 Italian tertiary deposits stand with reference to the other tertiary 

 formations ? The last question I am unable, for want of necessary 

 data, to answer distinctly ; but with regard to the rest, my researches 

 have brought out the following results : — 



VOL. II. PART II. B 



