420 PROCEEDINGS OE THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [Mar. 14, 



classifications of rocks must be artificial. Therefore, in arguing for 

 the close affinity of these life-groups, I have no intention of main- 

 taining that even the two united indicate a natural and distinct group 

 or system. In some respects the Permian fauna is related to that of 

 the Triassic period ; but this relationship appears to be more remote 

 than that with the Carboniferous, though perhaps less than is gene- 

 rally supposed. All that I wish and try to prove is, the compara- 

 tively intimate connexion which exists between life-groups of the 

 two periods — a connexion which seems to be more intimate than that 

 existing between the Silurian and Devonian, or between the Devonian 

 and Carboniferous systems, so far as is yet known. At the same 

 time I do not deny the probability that the palaeontogical connexion 

 between these systems may at last be found to be much closer than 

 now ; for I would rather refer all sudden changes in the distribution 

 of fossil species to breaks in the continuity of preservatory agencies 

 than to breaks in the continuity of ancient existences. 



In conclusion, I must add that in making these somewhat cursory 

 remarks I have no intention of speaking authoritatively, or without 

 due respect to those who hold different opinions. The sentiments ex- 

 pressed are certainly based on the residts of several years' researches 

 in Permian palaeontology ; but still they are merely those of a student, 

 not of a professor. 



P.S. Since writing the preceding remarks, I have had the oppor- 

 tunity (through the kindness of Mr. Davidson) of reading a paper by 

 M. Marcou, entitled " Dyas and Trias ; or, the New Red Sandstone in 

 Europe, North America, and India," in which an attempt is made to 

 prove that the Permian strata should not be classed as a palaeozoic 

 formation at all, but rather with the New Red Sandstone as mesozoic. 

 In this paper M. Marcou maintains tbat the Permian formation has 

 been classed with other palaeozoic groups solely on the strength of 

 the fades of its Molluscs and Plants. On this point I may be allowed 

 to remark that the facies of the whole of its fauna, as well as those 

 of its flora, are in favour of such a classification. And though M. 

 Marcou has quoted the Vertebrata and Crustacea as being corrobora- 

 tive of his views, yet when we remember that the bulk of the Ver- 

 tebrates belong to genera so pre-eminently palaeozoic as Palaioniscus, 

 Acrolepis, Pygopterus, Ccelacanthus, and Oyracanthus, and that, with 

 one exception, the Crustaceans belong to genera which existed in prae- 

 Permian eras, and that among them is a genu^ of Entomostraca 

 (Kirkbya) which is intimately related to Beyrichia, besides a Trilo- 

 bite of the genus Phillvpsia, it is difficult to see where the corrobo- 

 ration lies. But, without going into further details, it may, I think, 

 safely be said that the facies of the Permian fauna is decidedly 

 palaeozoic — that, besides generic types so palaeozoic as Productus, 

 Strojihalosia, Aulosteges, Spirifera, Streptorhynclms, Athyris, Cardio- 

 morpha, OrtJioceras* , Bellerophon* , Conularia among the Mollusca, 

 there are Fenestella, Synocladia, Cyathocrinns, Kirkbya, Phittipsia*, 



* Those genera marked with asterisks have been added to the Permian fauna 

 by the researches of American palaeontologists in New Mexico and Texas. 



