178 DK. H. POHLI& ON^ THE PLIOCENE OE MAEAGHA ETC. 



The constitution of the Maragha Pliocene is very similar to that 

 of the Pikermi beds, consisting- of pale reddish marls, which are 

 very hard below, but loose at the surface, with singular forms of 

 erosion ; they are the detritus of the volcanic ashes and tuffs of the 

 Sahend, and accumulations of pumice stones are frequently found in 

 them, usually associated with the bone-beds. The marls also 

 contain numerous more or less considerable strata of pebbles, the 

 debris of the Sahend rocks, and these are sometimes of respectable 

 dimensions, up to more than 1 metre in diameter. Nearest to 

 the Sahend the pebble-beds prevail, and the boulders are still 

 larger, the whole being closely connected with the vast chaos formed 

 by the erratic blocks of the earliest Pleistocene deposits. The 

 intimate relation between the Pliocene and Pleistocene in Persia 

 corresponds well with the correlations of the two groups in Europe, 

 as on the Norfolk coast and in many other localities. The general 

 form of the Pliocene hills of Maragha produced by Pleistocene 

 erosion is that of table-mountains, seldom conical. Several small 

 reefs of Cretaceous rocks penetrate the equally horizontal beds of 

 the reddish marls, forming elevated banks. The Pliocene hills 

 environing the town rise to more than 100 metres above the level 

 of the torrent Safi-chahi, which passes close to Maragha. 



The fossil bones have been found in the reddish marls at more 

 than six places, at greater or less distances from the city (up to 

 30 miles), and at diflPerent horizons, which, however, do not differ 

 from each other by any characteristics of the mammalian fauna. 



The list of the Maragha Pliocene mammals formerly given by me 

 may now be completed as foUows :— 



1. Hipparion gracile. Several complete skulls, with the 

 mandibles, and nearly all the bones of the skeleton. This is the 

 commonest form in the Maragha Pliocene. 



2. Onager ? sp. A smaller species of Equidae. 



3. Bhinoceros persice, Pohlig. Species with incisors, but other- 

 wise closely allied to B. tichorhinus ; this is also very common at 

 Maragha *, no fewer than four adult skulls, another with the milk- 

 dentition &c., having been found. 



[3 a. Bli. Blanfordi, Lyd., according to Lydekker.] 



4. Mastodon, sp. Less common. A tusk of this genus had a 

 maximum length of 2-35 metres. 



5. 8us, sp. 



6. Ga'zella hrevicornis. 



7. Palceoreas, sp. 



8. Tragoceros, sp. Allied to the Pikermi species. Very common 

 in the Pliocene of Maragha. 



9. Antilope, sp. major {Antidorcas ?). 



10. Buhalus ? sp. 



11. Cervus'l sp. 



* The occurrence of remains of large herbivorous animals in the Maragba 

 Pliocene proves the occurrence of an abundant vegetation at that period on the 

 Persian highlands, now so barren "where not artificially irrigated. 



