202 Report on the Geology, Zoology, #c. [No. 135. 



may occur in a cubic inch of chalk. But it has been proved that the 

 organic matter does not always bear the same proportion in chalk from 

 different quarters ; thus in specimens from the North of Europe, the quan- 

 tity of inorganic earthy chalk exceeds that of the organic bodies ; but in 

 specimens from the South of Europe, the animal remains largely pre- 

 dominate. Ehrenberg in his work on the animalcular constitution of 

 chalk, describes and figures specimens from twelve localities in Europe, 

 Asia, and Africa, all of which are filled with foraminiferous and other 

 minute chambered shells; the number of species amounting to 81, 

 some calcareous and some siliceous, including twenty-two species of 

 microscopic nautilites, nummulites, and cyprides, and forty species of 

 infusori ; with these there are a few confervse and other minute 

 vegetables.* That the calcareous matter which invests the exuviae 

 of molluscous and radiated animals found in the limestone above-men- 

 tioned, as also in a nummulitic limestone which we shall afterwards 

 notice as occurring among the Himalayas, the limestone of Caraberg, 

 the muschelkalk of the continent of Europe, the nummulitic limestone of 

 Hussun Abdal, the encrinal and coral limestone of the silurian and 

 carboniferous systems, is a segregation, (as supposed by Buckland and 

 Jameson,) from the waters in which these were deposited, and not 

 formed by the animals themselves, is more than probable. 



As we ascend the Pass leading into the salt range which lies four 

 coss to the N. W. from Pind Dadur Khan we cross over a range of 

 limestone abounding with organic remains, similar to those met on the 

 boulders ; in height it is about 500 feet, very rugged and steep, and 

 two miles in length. At the summit is the village of Chout, we 

 then get into a large and well cultivated valley, through which our 

 route lay six miles, and cross a small hill of fossiliferous limestone, in 

 which a thick bed of brown iron ore or hematite occurs imbedded, and 

 from Ehrenberg's researches we are entitled to infer, that in it organic re- 

 mains will be found. Descending a gentle acclivity, we arrive at the small 

 but pretty village of Choia Sydun Shah ; from whence the road to Rotas 

 winds along the banks of a small stream, whose water is supplied by a 

 large spring in the centre of the town. Its inhabitants are mostly all 

 fukeers, and it is so celebrated for its sanctity by the Hindoos, as to 



* Buckland ; Edinb. New Phil. Journ. vol. XXI. p. 441. 



