Murchison's Silurian System. 45 



constituting together the equivalent of the " Keuper" forma- 

 tion of the continent. 



2. Sandstone and quartzose conglomerates, representing 

 the Bunter Sandstein and Gres Bigarre. 



3. Calcareous conglomerate, equivalent to the dolomitic 

 conglomerate of the south-west, and the magnesian limestone 

 of the north-east of England, shown by Professor Sedgwick to 

 be the representative of rocks known in Germany under the 

 names of Zechstein, Rauchwacke, &c. 



4. The lower New Red Sandstone, overlying the coal-fields 

 of Staffordshire and Shropshire, equivalent to the Rothe-todte- 

 liegende, and probably the lower beds of the Gres des vosges. 



Mr. Murchison concludes his account of the New Red 

 System by observing, that a practical acquaintance with its 

 lower beds "is of vast national importance ; for as these 

 sandstones are now proved to graduate into the coal mea- 

 sures, we need not despair of eventually finding some of 

 the most valuable coal seams of the central counties ex- 

 tending beneath them." It is unnecessary to remind the 

 reader of the importance of determining the nature and 

 character of the vast tracts composed of sandstones on all 

 sides of the great alluvial plains of India ; and whether these 

 rocks belong to the Old Red or the New Red Systems, or 

 to both, considering the importance of this subject in re- 

 gard to India, we are satisfied that Mr. Murchison's work 

 affords by far the best examples of the peculiarities of these 

 rocks, and of the methods for conducting our researches 

 towards the discovery of their equivalent types in India ; 

 we shall therefore continue to follow him through the course 

 of investigation he has pursued, and endeavour to exhibit the 

 results of his researches in future numbers of our Journal. 

 We may thus put the India geologist in possession of details 

 and examples of the manner in which his inquiries may be 

 conducted with effect, no where to be found but in the 

 work of Mr. Murchison, which from its size and price could 

 not have a very general circulation in India. 



