400 H. E. Stricklam), Esq., on the Geology 



§. 2. The lacustrine beds repose against the southern slope of Mount Si- 

 pylus, from Djaki-keui, in the Vale of Nimphi, to Bournabat, where they are 

 covered up by the trachytic rocks. The most interesting sections of them are 

 on the west side of the ravine, about half a mile north of Bournabat ; and the 

 right bank of the torrent here exhibits the phaenomena shown in section 4. A 

 small outburst of red trachyte has heaved up strata of white and greenish marl, 

 containing concretionary masses of brown, hard, crystalline limestone. Some 

 of these masses are thickly perforated with sinuous tubes, and resemble tra- 

 vertin formed around reeds ; yet it is doubtful whether the tubes originated in 

 any organic body. Above these strata is a succession of whitish calcareous 

 marls, extending about 200 yards to the northward, and dipping 35° N. In 

 one place, a thin bed of brown clay is interposed, and contains fragments of 

 shells and vegetables. 



The upper part of these marly beds affords a rich mine to the student in 

 fossil botany ; some of the strata being crowded with leaves and other portions 

 of plants, perfectly preserved. The substance of the leaves commonly remains 

 of a ferruginous colour, and contrasts beautifully with the pale cream-coloured 

 matrix. 



The leaves belong to about twelve species of trees ; and some of them appear 

 referable to the genera Laurus, Nerium, Olea, Salix, Quercus, and Tamarix, 

 all which still flourish in Asia Minor ; but it is yet undetermined, whether any 

 of them are identical with existing species. 



These fossil vegetable remains are accompanied by shells of the genera 

 Ci/clas, Paludina, Planorbis, and Cypris. 



Lacustrine marls occupy the west side of the ravine, to the height of per- 

 haps 150 feet above the spot, where the fossil plants occur. Their junction 

 with the overlying igneous rocks affords the following interesting series of 

 beds. (See also Plate XXXIl., Section No. 1 and 3.) 



1. Brown porphyritic trachyte capping tlie hill, and continuous with that which forms the 



mountain of Cordileon. 



2. Alternating beds of tufaceous conglomerate and sand, regularly stratified, and resembling 



the conglomerate of Mount Perier, near Issoire, in France, except that the trachytic 

 fragments are less rolled — 30 or 40 feet. 



3. Tufa, with numerous fragments of decomposed pumice, 8 or 10 feet. 



4. Beds of rolled pebbles, from the size of an egg downwards, of gray limestone, quartz, and 



schist, but no igneous substances ; and similar to the conglomerate which underlies the 

 trachyte on the south side of Smyrna Bay — 20 to 30 feet. 

 3. White and yellow marls, containing, towards the upper part, Planorbis, Lijmncea, Paludina, 

 and Cyclas. They extend downwards to the bed of the torrent. 



All the strata, from No. 2 to 5 inclusive, are conformable, and dip about 



20° S.W. 



