110 PROCTEDIXGS OP THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, [Jan. 11, 



the upheaval and tlie mammillated shape of the mountainous region 

 situated on the north-eastern side of this town, Neither was he 

 acquainted with the modern volcanic district of Eiogordo ; this, 

 however, is not suprising, as the place is out of the common track, 

 being situated in the centre of a mountainous region, and it has not 

 been brought into notice until very lately, by my friend the distin- 

 guished archaeologist Dr, Beiianger, 



But what struck me more particularly in Prof. Ansted's memoir 

 was his assertion that fossils are exceedingly rare in the Secondary 

 Kmestones of the south of Andalusia, and that, although the few spe- 

 cimens that different geologists had been able to collect had enabled 

 them to agree as to the Jurassic character of the rocks, they could 

 not determine whether they belonged to the upper or lower division 

 of that period. My limited personal experience corroborated this 

 view ; but having lately become acquainted with a Secondary for- 

 mation rich in fossils, and bearing a character similar in its com- 

 position to those which exist in several parts of the south of Spain, 

 I shall make its description the subject of this communication. 



A couple of miles to the south of the city of Antequera, and 

 about thirty miles from Malaga, there exists a mountain-chain, 

 running from E, to W. for about thirty miles. It is very rough and 

 steep, and in some places attains the height of 7000 feet above 

 the level of the sea. Near Antequera it divides into two branches : 

 the one nearer to the city, in the northern direction, called Sierra 

 de la Chimenea, is the culminating point of the whole chain ; and 

 the other, which is about 1000 feet lower, extends to the south- 

 west, sloping in that direction, while at other points it presents 

 nearly vertical precipices. This branch of the Sierra is popularly 

 called the " Torcal," on account of the huge blocks of stone of 

 which it is composed. I had long heard much about its wonderful 

 structure ; but, owing to its difficult access, few persons have climbed 

 it, and therefore aU the information I could collect was of a very 

 vague character. At the end of last year I determined to visit it, 

 accompanied by some friends. 



Pancy yourself in a great city of marble, with immense squares 

 and numerous streets, covered with castles, arches, and pyramids, 

 and other buildings of the most fantastic shape and colossal 

 size. Such was the spectacle which developed itself before us, with- 

 out much strain upon the imagination. The rocks sometimes assume 

 the form of huge monsters ; and in other places we thought they 

 looked human, and as if great giants were frowning upon us, 

 Natural bridges were seen in every direction ; but what surprised us 

 more was the wonderful state of equilibrium in which many of the 

 rocks were piled together ; we repeatedly saw, for example, an 

 enormous rock on the top of a slender pyramid, which, although 

 it looks likely to fall at the slightest breeze, has stood firm in this 

 position for successive ages. I assure you that I do not exaggerate 

 in the slightest degree the extraordinary magnificence of this 

 natural wonder. I should recommend all travellers who love to con- 

 template the beautiful and capricious forms of nature in her strangest 



