1867.] TATE SOTJTH-AJ'RICAN FOSSILS. 169 



Oolitic rocks to those of Europe shows an affinity and a correspond- 

 ence in the northern and southern hemispheres which does not exist 

 in the now-living faunas and floras, and demonstrates the contem- 

 poraneity of deposits having a wide geographical range ; for, with 

 but very few exceptions, the species in the several areas are distinct, 

 whilst the majority of those in each of the several areas have ana- 

 logous forms in the other areas ; and they, as a whole, constitute but 

 one type, approximating to that of the Lower and Middle Oolites. 

 Is not the one formation in.Cutch, inUitenhage, and in Russia con- 

 temporaneous with the whole Jurassic period of Europe ? for in this 

 latter area, where the greatest variation of physical conditions has 

 prevailed, there is to be found the greatest diversity of life. Kow, 

 if the condition of homotaxis had been in operation, a greater com- 

 munity of species between the faunas and floras of these outlpug 

 areas and those of the great centre of diffusion would have re- 

 sulted. But little or no dispersion had taken place, as each of these 

 provinces has its own fauna and flora, the amount of persistency of 

 life in each corresponding to the uniformity of the forces which 

 were in operation from the commencement to the close of the Jurassic 

 epoch. Western Europe, having been the scene of great physical 

 changes during this period, possesses a great variety of life, whereas 

 South Africa during the same period of time witnessed few revolu- 

 tions, and, as the forces tending to modify its life were compara- 

 tively tranquil, its fauna and flora exhibit little diversity. 



I therefore would not regard the Oolites of South Africa as 

 coeval with this or that formation, but maintain that they are the 

 representations of the whole of the Jurassic rocks — or rather of the 

 whole, less the Upper Oolites, since no forms analogous to those of 

 that period have been met with beyond the confines of Europe. 



It is also worthy of remark that the representative faunas of the 

 European Cretaceous rocks, in the majority of the extra-European 

 districts examined, exhibit a remarkable uniformity, and are ana- 

 logous to the fauna of our Middle Cretaceous formations. 



y. A Table of tlie Organic Uemains of the Uitenhage Formation, 



a. Flora of tlie Wood-hed Series at Geelhouthoom, 



Order CoxiFERiE. 



Athrotaxites Indicus ?, Oldham. 

 Order CYCADACEiE. 



1. Palgeozamia (Otozamites) recta, Tate. 



2. Palseozamia (Podozamites) Morrisii, Tate. 



3. Palieozamia Eubidgei, Tate. 



4. Palseozamia ? Africaua, Tate. 

 Order Filices. 



1. Pecopteris Atlierstonei, Tate. 



2. Pecopteris Hubidgei, Tate. 



3. Pecopteris Africana, Tate. 



4. Asplenites lobata, Oldham. 



5. Sphenopteris antipodura, Tate. 



6. Cyclopteris JeuMnsiana, Tate. 



