470 PKOCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [May 16, 



Notwithstanding the constant restoration, even in 1859 every quar- 

 ter of the town was still encumbered with masses of ruin. 



From the researches hitherto prosecuted in South America, it would 

 seem that the earlier systems of the Secondary epoch, viz. the Triassic 

 and Jurassic, are very partially represented* in the deposits of that 

 continent. Formations referable to the Cretaceous era are, on the 

 contrary, much more general, and seem to occupy vast spaces in New 

 Granada f, Peru f, Chili f, Brazil f, and near the Straits of Magellan f. 

 The organic remains from the first-mentioned region have been 

 shown by Von Buch and D'Orbigny to correspond very closely with 

 the Neocomian fauna of Europe, and even to offer a considerable 

 number of identical species. According to Mr. Darwin, the same 

 is the case with the deposits of Chili, whilst those of the Straits are 

 referred by M. d'Orbigny to his Upper " Neocomien " or a Aptien." 



It is interesting to find this period again represented in another 

 province of the same great geographical region, since the " Older 

 Parian " formation, described in this notice, must also be associated 

 with the Lower Cretaceous horizon. A parallel may be suggested 

 between the mineral nature of the series east of Barcelona and the 

 hard dark limestones, the marls, and sandstones described as per- 

 taining to the formation in New Granada ; whilst the shaly slates of 

 the western range seem to resemble the indurated schists observed 

 near Port Famine, in the Straits. 



Although equivalent to the older or Neocomian period of the Cre- 

 taceous epoch, yet we shovdd vainly search in Europe for any corre- 

 spondence with the vast development presented by this great forma- 

 tion in the northern part of the South American continent. We 

 have seen how in North-eastern Venezuela it constitutes a great 

 mountain-series, including summits of over 7000 feet, assuming, 

 according to the statements of observers, in New Granada more 

 colossal forms, and prevailing at elevations of upwards of 12,000 feet. 

 Nor is even that, perhaps, the final limit, since there is a high pro- 

 bability of the " Older Parian " extending along the great arc of the 

 eastern chain uniting Valencia and Bogota, and, consequently, of its 

 contributing to the structure of those still loftier heights of the 

 province of Me'rida, which attain or even surpass 14,000 feet. 



These considerations may suffice to express how deep an interest 

 must attach to an extension of our knowledge respecting the forma- 

 tion in question, of which the proper exploration and description 

 are amongst the most important and attractive subjects awaiting the 

 future investigators of South- American geology. 



* Bayle et Coquand, " Fossiles clu Chili," Mem. cle la Societe Greologique de 

 France, t. iv. 



t D'Orbigny, Voyage en Amerique, Greologie et Paleontologie, Part iii. 

 Von Buch, Petrifications 'recueillies par Humboldt. Darwin, Voyage of the 

 ' Beagle,' Geology, Part iii. pp. 151, 180, &c. Pictet, Paleontologie, ii. p. 54. 



