288 



PKOCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [Jan. 4, 



Paludina, a Limncea, and a very large Cardium, somewhat 

 similar to those found living in the adjacent lake and the 

 Danube. 



This portion of the deposits at Babel appears to me to have been 

 tranquilly deposited during a second condition of the lake, when 

 these new and characteristic shells were living in it. Similar fossils 

 and the same conditions of the strata occur in the cliff on the oppo- 

 site side of the lake at Bardur*. 



The whole of the fossils in this series resemble the living species 

 more than those contained in the lower group No. 1, which is seen 

 only in the upper half of this lake ; the characteristic striated 

 bivalves of group No. 1 being wanting in this group No. 2, as far 

 as I have observed. 



This lower and fossiliferous portion of the above section at Babel 

 is succeeded by about 70 feet of unfossiliferous brown marls or 

 earthy marls (b) that very much resemble the superficial or drift 

 series ; but I could not clearly define a positive separation between 

 a and b ; although, from some appearances of such division, I think it 

 may exist, and that we have here a section of both the series No. 2 

 and No. 3. Fossil bones, much worn, of some large animal were 

 found at the base of this cliff; and I have been informed that the 

 remains of fossil Elephants and other large Mammalia have been 

 procured from the upper series of Steppe-deposits in several localities. 



I found the same geological and palseontological characters in the 

 deposits of the Steppe at Galatz and near Ibrail, as well as more in 

 the interior of Wallachia. Approaching the Carpathian chain, I 

 found that they became more gravelly, particularly on the line of 

 the Seereth. 



The foot of the Carpathian mountains between Foksehan and 

 Bimni is composed of vast gravel-beds, rising several hundred feet 

 above the Wallachian plateau, of which it forms the abrupt boundary. 



These gravelly beds seem to have been deposited under great dis- 

 turbance, and to be of late origin. They have been derived appa- 

 rently from the rocks of the Carpathians during some great upheaval, 

 accompanied by some great water-action operating powerfully and 

 extensively. This mass of debris, whether of prior or of contempo- 

 rary origin, must have greatly contributed to the superficial or drift 



* The following list has been drawn up by Mr. Woodward on examining 

 Capt. Spratt's specimens: — 



Fossil shells from under Babel and Bardur, Lake Yalpuk. 



Paludina vivipara ? 

 Valvata piscinalis. 

 Lithoglyphus naticoides, Fer. 

 Melanopsis Esperi, FSr. 

 Hydrobia Caspica, Eichw. ? 

 Bithynia variabilis, Eichw. ? 

 Neritina fluviatilis ( = Danubialis). 



' S P- . , . 



Linintea auricularia. 



Limnasa, sp. ; very slender fragment, 

 like young of L. stagnalis, var, fragilis. 

 Planorbis marginatus. 



, sp. ; slightly keeled. 



Cardium. 



Cyclas rivicola. 



Pisidium. 



Dreissena polymorpha. 



Unio (fragment). 



