1866.] DUNCAK- rN^FKA-LIAS COEALS OP SOUTH TVALES. 13 



some other Liassic beds which rest upon Carboniferous Limestone. 

 During this autumn, the same indefatigable geologist went over the 

 district described by Mr. Tawney, and on his return he forwarded 

 me a magnificent collection of specimens from Sutton, Southerndown, 

 Brocastle, Ewenny, Langan, Laleston, Cowbridge, and Shepton 

 Mallet. He moreover gave me all the information he could obtain 

 on the stratigraphical relations of the highly fossiliferous beds of 

 those localities. It soon became evident that there was a very con- 

 siderable number of new species of Madreporaria among the speci- 

 mens*. 



The objects of this communication are, to introduce to Palaeonto- 

 logists a new British coral-fauna from deposits of Liassic age, which 

 rest upon Carboniferous Limestone ; to correlate these beds with each 

 other and with the Infra-Lias in IS'ormandy, in the Cote d'Or, and 

 in the Duchy of Luxembourg ; to show the necessity of filling up 

 the space which now exists in British classificatory geology between 

 the zones of Ammonites Planorhis and oi Ammonites BucMandi,Gry- 

 phcea incurva, &c. ; and to give an analysis of the species of Madre- 

 poraria of the Infra-Lias. 



2. Description of the Brocastle and Ewenny Deposits. — Brocastle 

 and Ewenny are localities a short distance south-west of Bridgend 

 in Glamorganshire. Their fossiliferous deposits rest upon the Moun- 

 tain-limestone, and fill up depressions on its surface. The beds have 

 no stratigraj)hical succession ; but at Ewenny the Sutton stone was 

 seen by Mr. Charles Moore beneath the fossiliferous deposit. The beds 

 are more or less conglomeratic, they are limestones with much Dolo- 

 mite in their composition, and the fossils weather out amongst crystals 

 of selenite, calc-spar, galena, and occasionally of quartz. They con- 

 tain, more or less, dark chert derived from Carboniferous Limestone ; 

 and Palaeozoic fossils are thus introduced. Hand specimens show a 

 dull-grey cherty fracture or a light-brown semicrystalline lustre ; 

 but the fossils weather out of a pale yellowish brown colour. Occa- 

 sionally the limestone is darker ; but the fossils always appear of the 

 same colour. Casts are frequent, and they are often filled with 

 crystals. 



* As Mr. Charles Moore is describing the MoUusca, and Mr. Tate is studying 

 the Gasteropoda from these localities, I shall notice only those Gasteropoda and 

 Lamellibranchiata which are common to these beds and their continental equi- 

 valents. I am xmder great obligations to Dr. Wright for sending me the typical 

 specimens of the corals he has described from the zone of Ammonites Planorbis 

 in England and in the island of Skye — and also to the E«v. P. B. Brodie for 

 the loan of all his Lower-Lias Madreporaria, for sections which he has given 

 me, and for much useful information. These gentlemen, in conjunction with 

 Mrs. Strickland and Messrs. Tate, Burton, and Chamberlin, hare given me 

 many of the data by which I have been able to compare the coral-faxma of the 

 Lias containing Ammonites Bucklandi &c. with that of the beds of which this 

 communication more especially treats. My friend Mr. Charles Mooi*e is the 

 geologist to whom I am the most indebted. With a true love of science, he 

 has furnished me with all the details I required concerning the fossiliferous beds 

 which he has so carefully studied, although there is a difference in our opinions 

 about their geological age ; and he has spared neither time nor trouble in his en- 

 deavours to elucidate the truth. 



