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XXVI. — On the Upper Formations of the New Red Sandstone System 

 in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Warwickshire ; shoiving that 

 the Red or Saliferous Marls, including a pecidiar Zone of Sandstone, 

 represent the " Keuper" or " Marnes Irisees;" with some account of 

 the underlying Sandstone of Ombersley, Bromsgrove, and War- 

 wick, proving that it is the " Banter Sandstein " or " Gres Bigarre" 

 of Foreign Geologists. 



By R. I. MURCHISON, Esq , V.P.G.S. and 

 H. E. STRICKLAND, Esq., F.G.S. 



[Read June 14, 1837.] 



PREFACE. 



In former communications to the Geological Society*, the System of the 

 New Red Sandstone of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Shropshire was 

 subdivided by Mr. Murchison in the following manner : 



Foreign Equivalents. 



1. Marls with salt, gypsum, and a thin course of sandstone . . Keuper — Marnes Irisees. 



2. Quartzose, red sandstone, and conglomerate Bunter Sandstein — Gres Bigarre. 



3. Calcareous conglomerate=:magnesian limestone Zechstein. 



4. Lower new red sandstone Rothe-Todte-Liegende. 



The objects of this Memoir are to describe with greater precision than had 

 been previously attempted, the two superior members of this group, by showing 

 that they are both fossiliferous, and that they can be separated from each 

 other by their zoological and lithological characters, as well as by geological 

 position. The communication is the result of a joint examination of the district, 

 and of other observations made independently by the authors. In it, they 

 propose to describe the prominent characters of the two superior formations 

 of the New Red System as exhibited in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, 

 and to extend their remarks concerning those beds into Warwickshire. The 

 strata will be considered in descending order. 



* See Proceedings, vol. i. p. 471. March 27th, 1838 ; vol. ii. p. 115. January 2 1st, 1835 ; 

 and " The Silurian System," p. 27 et seq. 



VOL. V. SECOND SERIES 2 X 



