On Cyrtoma, a new genus of Fossil Echinida. 1 83 



the body, may be included under the term Disaster* From 

 the nature of the interval between Asterias and Echinus, and 

 the crowded multiplicity of forms that occupy other parts of 

 the circle, there are here probably many new forms to dis- 

 cover, in addition to those we shall now describe. 



Approaching the Khasya mountains from the plains, at 

 a distance of ten miles, their outlines appeared to us flat 

 and unpromising ; and the season being the early part of 

 October, there was no great prospect of making geologi- 

 cal observations of much interest. Nevertheless the flat 

 uniform plains began even at this distance to lose their 

 sameness, and rounded knolls rising out of jeels and swamp 

 became common. They were found to be composed of 

 yellow clay, with occasional boulders and corroded nodules 

 of limestone. The clayey hillocks were not met with after 

 leaving Chattuck, but others composed of coarse sand, gravel, 

 and boulders in alternate layers were common, partially con- 

 solidated by iron, thick flakes of which in the form of oxide 

 were very abundant. For the last four or five miles of the 

 way even the sand hills disappeared, and the country still 

 continued low. Indeed we proceeded to within two miles of 

 the foot of the mountains in large boats, drawing two feet of 

 water. From thence we passed over a low, richly wooded 

 tract, composed of boulders and sand. On reaching the 

 foot of the mountains the acclivity seemed to rise gradually 

 about one foot in three or four on a slightly tortuous 

 road. The first part of this ascent is composed of boulders, 

 sand, and clay, with here and there masses of nummulite 

 limestone standing erect as if forced upwards, many of them 

 assuming the appearance of architectural ruins, to which the 

 large creepers, air plants, and mosses which the moisture of 

 the climate render abundant, give a very beautiful effect. 



* Etym, Aiq twice ov double, and aQTT)0 the star-fish. 



