406 H. E, Strickland, Esq., on the Geology 



These calcareous rocks seem referable to a distinct epoch, and may perhaps 

 eventually prove to be of the Meiocene or even of the Eocene a^e. The 

 fine-grained limestone, extensively quarried near Lixouri in Cephalonia, be- 

 longs probably to this part of the tertiary series. 



On the west sideof PortCheri is a low cliff of blue marl and clay, the beds 

 of which abut against the secondary or Apennine limestone, and dip about 

 18° north-east. The only fossils noticed in it, were a few scales and vertebree 

 offish, and a species of Vermiculum, Mont. (Quincjueloculina, D'Orb.) 



This small, argillaceous mass has been probably derived from a higher part 

 of the tertiary series, and brought down to its present position by the sub- 

 sidence, which seems to have formed the valley and bay of Port Cheri. Of 

 this depression, there is further proof in a remarkable fault, which occurs 

 in the Apennine limestone, and is marked by a smooth surface of the rock 

 descending to the sea. It may be traced inland in a direction W.N.W. for 

 half a mile or more, rising like a wall above the downcast portion on the 

 north-east side. At the point where it joins the sea the surface is nearly a 

 plane, inclined about 55°. It is scored with numerous strias, inclined at an 

 angle of Q5° to the horizon, the dip of the strata being about 25° N.E. 



The enormous friction and pressure of the descending mass have imparted 

 to the surface of rock, a remarkable degree of hardness, and a darker colour 

 than usual. This change of character penetrates to the depth of about two 

 or three inches from the surface ; the rock below being softer and white, 

 and resembling the compact chalk of Yorkshire. 



The tertiary beds range from Port Clieri northwards along the foot of the 

 limestone, and reappear on the north shore about two miles beyond the village 

 of Catastari ; they are shown in Section 3, which is in some respects a 

 counterpart of Section 2, but presents differences which it is not easy to ex- 

 plain. The porous yellow limestone, which at Port Cheri intervenes between 

 the argillaceous beds and the secondary rocks, is here wholly absent, and the 

 tertiary clay appears to pass gradually into the secondary limestone. The 

 highest beds in the section, consisting of blue marl with shells of Creseis and 

 Hyalaea, are the precise equivalents of that which contains these fossils near 

 Port Cheri ; and we are thus furnished with a common point of departure in 

 our comparison of Sections 2 and 3. They are succeeded (Section 3) by 

 numerous beds of blue clay and marl, apparently destitute of fossils, becoming 

 more calcareous in the lower part, and ultimately passing into a white lime- 

 stone resembling hard chalk. A stratum of conglomerate, used for millstones, 

 occurs here, and consists of rolled pebbles of compact Apennine limestone ; 

 beneath this are other strata of compact limestone, undistinguishable from that 



