306 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



I was informed by Mr. Perkins (the head of the American Mis- 

 sionary Estabhshment at Uriimia, whose geological remarks on that 

 neighbourhood have been published by Prof. Hitchcock) that he 

 had heard of the existence of fossil vegetables on some of the islands 

 at Giiverjin. 



There are certainly none at the Kalah, and as there were no boats 

 on the Lake, I had no means of access to these islands. Possibly, 

 however, the vermiform casts, which are not uncommon in the sand- 

 stones, may have been mistaken for remains of plants. 



Many of the fossils derived from the Kalah Rock have a remark- 

 able resemblance to those of Kirrind and Piil i Tang ; but they have 

 not yet undergone careful examination. There is, however, an 

 entire absence of the characteristic Nummulites of those localities. 



In this short section we have limestone assuming three different 

 forms ; viz. the white limestone of Giiverjin Kalah, — the blue lime- 

 stone of Wurgowiz and Zendesht, — and the chert with opals of Wur- 

 gowiz. 



Are we to conclude that these were deposited at different epochs, 

 or is it more reasonable to suppose that they are only varieties of the 

 same deposit, formed under different circumstances? That white 

 limestone is converted into blue by its proximity to the igneous rocks 

 has been pretty clearly shown in previous sections; and that fossils 

 should by the same cause be altogether obliterated, is an established 

 fact. I am therefore inclined to regard the three varieties of lime- 

 stone in this district as the same deposit, and probably of nearly 

 identical age with the upper beds of the Nummulitic rocks of the 

 south. 



Lake of Uriimia. 



As considerable beds of rock-salt exist in the neighbourhood of the 

 Lake of Urumia, and as a former condition of the Lake itself appears 

 in some measure to have assisted in the formation of this valuable 

 mineral, and therefore to be within the scope of the geologist's 

 researches, — I trust it will not be considered a digression, if I briefly 

 make a few remarks upon this lake. 



The Lake of Urumia measures about 82 miles in length, from 

 north to south, and about 24 miles at its greatest breadth, from east 

 to west. Its level is 4 1 00 feet* above the sea. The water is of a deep- 

 azure colour, but there is something exceedingly unnatural in its heavy 

 stillness and want of life. Small fragments of Fuci, saturated with 

 salt, and thrown ashore, form a low ridge at the margin of the Lake, 

 and emit such a noxious effluvium under a hot sun, as to produce 

 nausea at the stomach. The sulphuretted hydrogen generated from 

 the Lake itself without doubt adds to this sensation. 



The water is intensely salt, and evaporates so rapidly, that a man, 

 who swam in to bring me a bottle of the water for analysis, on 

 coming out was covered with particles of salt, and looked as white 

 and ludicrous as though he had been thrown into a flour tub. 



* According to the measurement of the Rev. Mr. Stoddard of Urumia. 



