716 Col. Sykes on Fossils from Cutch. 



Sowerby considers to be new, I have named after Capt. Smee. It occurs in 

 the water-courses and the ploughed fields about Shahpoor, but the specimens 

 do not appear to have been water-worn. (See PI. LXI. fig. 5.) 



Aslarte. Of this genus Mr. Sowerby has determined two new species. 

 They were met with under similar circumstances to the Trigonia. (fig. 1 & 2.) 



Corhula. An undescribed species occurs abundantly in an indurated fer- 

 ruginous rock at Dookurwarra in the Runn, at the north-east point of Cutch, 

 in the 71st degree of longitude. The strata are highly-inclined and very thin, 

 and transverse sections of the slabs present a beautiful appearance. It is not 

 associated with the other shells. 



Gri/phoea. A specimen belonging to this genus so closely resembles the 

 Gryplma dilatata of the Oxford clay of England, that Mr. Sowerby has not 

 been able to separate specifically the Cutch fossil from it. (See wood-cut, 

 fig. 2.) Other specimens, varieties apparently of this shell, occur in Capt. 

 Smee's collection, and differ in the back of the lower valves being more con- 

 vex and the beak more prominent. They were all found under the same 

 circumstances as the Trigonia. 



Capt. Smee's series also contains specimens of Lycophrys*, presented to 

 him by Dr. Burnes of the Booj Residency. They are said to be thrown 

 up in ridges near Luckput Bunder. In addition to the shells, the collection 

 includes fragments of silicified fossil wood, and radiated iron pyrites similar 

 to that contained in the chalk of England. 



I have also to point out to the Society specimens of alabaster and a hard 

 and durable oolite from my own collection ; the former from Cutch, and the 

 latter from near Poorbunder on the west coast of the peninsula of Goojrat. 

 This rock would appear to characterize the major part of the western portion 

 of the province, as it is found abundantly at Raujcote in the centre of the 

 peninsula. The oolite is used in that magnificent structure the town-hall 

 of Bombay. It does not appear to resemble exactly any of the character- 

 istic oolites of England. 



Lignite. I close the catalogue with a specimen of lignite from Cutch. 

 Attempts were made by the government to work this coal ; but whether from 

 mismanagement or from other causes, they were not persevered in, and I be- 

 lieve the beds at present lie undisturbed. The locality is at the village of 

 Tramboa, from 6 to 8 miles north of Booj. Traces of coal are also met with 

 in many other places. 



As the tracts whence the above specimens came have not been visited by 

 a geologist, it may scarcely be prudent to speculate on the age of the forma- 

 * See PI. XXIV. fig. 15 and 16, of Capt. Grant's illustrations. 



