380 MR. E. W. BINNEY ON CARBONIFEROUS, PERMIAN,, AND 



This singular rock, from its conglomerate character, evi- 

 dently points to the action of stronger currents of water 

 than those from which the fine sedimentary coal-measures 

 >vere deposited, and a mixture of something like volcanic 

 ash indicates disturbances of the crust of the globe ; but 

 the plants contained in it are, so far as their characters 

 can be deciphered (for they are not in a good state of pre- 

 servation, and appear more like drifted specimens^), or- 

 dinary coal-plants. It is quite unconformable to the over- 

 lying Permian breccia at Barrowmouth, which is seen lying 

 in hollows worn out of it. No doubt it is seen superim- 

 posed on the coal-measures near Whitehaven, and probably 

 has there a similar inclination ; but it is not on middle but 

 upper coal-measures where we should expect to find it, as 

 is the case near Manchester, where it is found over the 

 Four-feet Mine in the upper coal-series. If it be an or- 

 dinary carboniferous sandstone, conformable to its under- 

 lying coal-measures, it will be found in a constant position, 

 and not varying from place to place. It is quite true that 

 we may account for its position by assuming it to be an 

 unconformable portion of the coal-measures ; but if we still 

 cross the boundaries of conglomerate character and uncon- 

 formable position and take no notice of these features, 

 what is to stop us from classing the whole of the Permian 

 beds as upper coal-measures ? This sandstone appears to 

 me to occupy the position of the Lower Rothliegendes of 

 Germany ; and if they are to be retained as Permian, it 

 ought to be. On the other hand, if they are to be classed 

 merely as unconformable coal-measures, it must follow the 

 same lot. Not having examined the Permian deposits of 

 the Continent, I am unable to give any further opinion 



* It is probable that these plants are a part of the carboniferous flora 

 which have been drifted from their habitats and mingled with the debris 

 of the Lower Permian, This was the opinion of Prof. Sedgwick many years 

 since ; and, if I am not mistaken, my friend Prof. Morris, F.G.S., inclines 

 to the same opinion now. 



