Vol. 57.] PHYSICAL DEYKLOPMENT OF GUADELOUPE. 511 



which I collected near Les Abimes there is a species of coral of 

 the genus Stijlo^ihora, which is an Oligocenc or Miocene form {teste 

 Dr. Vaiighau). These limestones, with the underlying tuffs, appear 

 to constitute one great geological sj^stem belonging to the older 

 Tertiary Period, the same as the similar succession of like tuffs and 

 limestones in Antigua. It may be noted that the systems of the 

 two islands are located along the strike of the beds in both, 

 separated by little more than 35 miles. There is no reason to doubt 

 that the physical conditions of Antigua were reproduced in, or 

 rather extended to, Guadeloupe, by way of the intermediate bank 

 before mentioned. Accordingly we may designate this series as the 

 Antigua Formation. 



V. The Lafonde Gravel and Marl. 



On the plateau above the escarpment, which extends from Port 

 Louis to the eastern coast, occurs a deposit of white marl with water- 

 worn gravel, derived from the adjacent limestones mentioned in the 

 cliffs of the escarpment. I have designated this superficial marl, 

 resting on the older strata of similar composition, (and often un- 

 recognizable from them, where the gravels and the unconformity are 

 both wanting or concealed), the Lafonde Series, after an estate 

 at the foot of the escarpment. This deposit is only a few feet 

 thick, and rests upon the eroded surface of the White Limestone 

 Series, but in horizontal layers, the lamination being shown by the 

 lines of pebbles. In places, the well waterworn gravels are mixed 

 with the angular fragments of the disintegrated rocks of the under- 

 lying beds, where the more marly earth has been washed away. 

 These loams and gravels were observed at an elevation of 200 feet. 



I did not attempt to follow out the distribution of the Lafonde 

 Series in Guadeloupe, but only sought to find the recurrence of the 

 Friar's Hill Series, of Antigua, with the results stated, showing 

 that the thin mantles in both islands have precisely the same 

 characteristics and elevation (200 feet), and rest unconformably 

 upon the white limestones of the Upper Oligocene or Lower Miocene 

 system.^ 



VI. The Limestones at the Usine of Pointe a Pitre. 



Adjacent to the sea-shore, at the Lysine south-east of Pointe a 

 Pitre, is a cliff rising to a height of 40 feet. It is composed 

 of a creamy white, compact limestone in horizontal beds, containing 

 numerous fossils, mostly in the form of casts, many of which are 

 scarcely determinable. But on making a preliminary inspection 

 of my collection, Prof. AV. H. Dall considered that the fossil 

 shells were mostly recent species. Two corals, obtained in these 

 beds, were kindly determined for me by Dr. T. Wayland Vaughan — 



1 The character and position of these beds are the same as those of the 

 Matanzas Series of Cuba, the Layton of Jamaica, and the Lafayette of the 

 American coast ; the age of these is found to be older than the Glacial deposits, 

 but there are no extinct forms among the few fossils contained in them. 



