I860.] SPEATT BESSARABIA, ETC. 287 



being covered by the superficial earthy marls (7t, i), and in 

 some parts are entirely wanting. The debris of /and g is some- 

 times found in the lower part of the overlying deposits (h, i) ; 

 and appear as groups of shells from/, and fragments of the 

 sandstones from g, collected together in the hollows formed by 

 the denuding action. 

 According to this evidence, therefore, the deposits h and i belong 

 to No. 3, the superficial series or drift, which here directly overlies 

 No. 1, or the lower freshwater series, represented by a — g. 



Further southward, and on the point above Inputsitza, occurs a 

 cliff, about 25 feet high, composed wholly of the stratum g of the 

 Section fig. 2 ; the subjacent beds being below the level of the lake. 

 Here the overlying beds of the upper series are also somewhat 

 gravelly, being the rounded fragments of the indurated layers in g. 

 Below Inputsitza the above group of deposits entirely disappear ; 

 and a loose marly series occurs, which I have designated as No. 2 

 (p. 283), from its containing some distinct fossils, as well as differently 

 characterized strata. No good section was seen showing these marls 

 in juxtaposition with the beds of the series No. 1 ; and therefore it 

 could not be determined whether they were conformable or not ; or 

 whether the former aro distinct, indicative of a second period of 

 change in the general features, and therefore of the deposits and 

 molluscan fauna, of the lake, as I imagine may be the case. 



A cliff under the village of Babel, on the cast side of the lake, 

 presents a good section of this series of deposits forming the extremity 

 of the Steppe. 



Fig. 3. — Section of the Steppe Deposits near Babel, on the east side of 

 Lake Yalpuk. 



Village. 



b. Porous earthy marl, witboui fossils. AJbonJ 70 feet 

 a. Brown day, with bands "f fossils. Lboul 26 feet. 



The cliff at Babel (ti,u r . '■'>) is aboul L30 feet high, and is composed 

 ut' Loose Bands, marls, and Bandy marls, but changing so slightly, or 

 so gradually, as to show no distinct stratification except by colour. 



a is abont 25 feet of brown clay or marl ; containing tmmerons 

 fossils, particularly towards the upper part of it. where the 

 fossils lie in beds in great abundance. Borne of thefossil shells 

 (Dretsssna) having both valves, indicate that they lived where 

 they have been deposited, without any violent transport of the 

 Bedimenl having taken place, A delicate and minute Valvaia 

 and a small Planorbia also oocur, associated with a very Large 

 voi . wi. pabt i. v 



