Structure of the Eastern Alps. 345 



4tli. Of the characteristic chalk fossils (Ammonites^ Belemnites^ Hamites, 

 Scaphites, Turrilites,, &c.);, there is not the least trace : neither are there any 

 traces of the Giyphcea Colnmba, of Inocerami, plicated Terebratulse, &c. &c. 



5th. The only species (excepting the three above mentioned) which at the 

 first glance seem to belong to the chalk, are a Plagiostoma and a Gryphaa. 

 But on a closer examination, they not only differ from the fossils of the chalk, 

 but are ascertained to be of the same species with certain fossils found in the 

 tertiary formations of Ortenburg and Sternberg. 



Such is the statement of Count Miinster, an accomplished naturalist, pos- 

 sessing the best possible means of forming a correct judgment on this ques- 

 tion ; and as we have no direct geological evidence to oppose to it, we will- 

 ingly adopt his conclusion (at which indeed we had arrived, on much more 

 imperfect evidence, before we were acquainted with his paper), that the iron- 

 sand of the Kressenberg is a formation newer than the chalk. If indeed such 

 suites of fossils as he has described exist in the green-sand below the chalk, 

 then there is an end of all zoological distinction between secondary and ter- 

 tiary formations : but we believe that among the perplexing phenomena of 

 the Eastern Alps, there will be nothing found to justify so anomalous a con- 

 clusion. 



On the whole (as far as regards this and the preceding section) the geolo- 

 gical and zoological phenomena appear in perfect harmony. Zoological evi- 

 dence leads us to conclude that the Kressenberg beds are newer than any of 

 the nummulitic groups of the previous section *. Geological evidence does not 

 invalidate, but confirms this conclusion, and leads us to place these very beds 

 over the other nummulitic groups, so as to fill up the valley of denudation south 

 of Siegsdorf : and when this is effected, we have then before us a vast deve- 

 lopment of the nummulitic series, the lower part graduating into the highest 

 secondary, and the upper part into the lowest tertiary system on the north 

 flank of the Alps ; and also forming a portion of a series which ascends with- 

 out any break of continuity into the tertiary marls of Haslach. 



It may be objected to the previous conclusion, that it is after all founded 

 solely on zoological evidence ; inasmuch as our direct geological evidence is 

 only derived from the hypothetical union of two sections several miles distant 

 from each other. We therefore, in the next place, proceed to describe a 

 section, through corresponding groups of the series, further to the east, in 

 which there is no interruption in the sequence of the several deposits. 



* Plate XXXVI. fig. 6. 

 VOL. III. SECOND SERIES. 2 Y 



