252 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [No. 3. 



Besting again quite unconformably upon these rocks was found 

 another series of sandstones, often ferruginous, generally speaking 

 irregularly though strongly bedded, and of great thickness. These 

 formed the lofty and boldly scarped range of the Puchmurry or 

 Mahadewa hills. And to this group Mr. Oldham proposed to give 

 the name of Mahadewas. No organic evidence had been found in 

 these. In one or two places they seemed to pass upwards conform- 

 ably into sandstones holding remains of large mammalia (and pro- 

 bably of Sewalik date.) 



This group was markedly separated from the coal-bearing group 

 below, and as compared with it was also characterized by the com- 

 parative absence of trap dykes or other exhibitions of igneous rocks. 



Upon these, in parts of the district, rested the great spreading 

 sheets of trap rocks forming the continuation of the immense basal- 

 tic field of the Deccan. Four and five distinct flows could readily 

 be traced in places. And adverting to the occurrence of the beds 

 containing shells (Physa, Paludina, Unio, &c.) which were found 

 between these flows (Intertrappeau lacustrine formation, of Carter) 

 so far as the evidence derived from the Nerbudda district was con- 

 cerned, it appeared that there was no reason to suppose that they 

 were confined to any one layer or flow, and still less reason to sup- 

 pose that their present aspect and condition was due to the intru- 

 sion of the igneous rocks from below (as advocated by some), but 

 that on the other hand there was much ground for thinking that 

 this alteration was entirely due to the subsequent overflowing of 

 the heated mass of the trap above, and to the disturbances conse- 

 quent on the exhibition of such powerful forces as must have accom- 

 panied the production of these immense flows of lava. These shelly 

 beds seemed to have been formed by tranquil deposition during the 

 intervals between the successive flows of igneous rock, and to have 

 been broken up indurated and baked by the succeeding outbreak. 

 Mr. Oldham stated, that in making this remark, he wished to say 

 that he had not had the opportunity of seeing the localities referred 

 to by Messrs. Hislop and Hunter, near Nagpore, from which those 

 careful observers had drawn their conclusions, bat that his view had 

 strong Permian analogies of the Saurians (Brachyops) ought not to be overlooked. 

 But the identity of the strata was, he thought, still to be established. 



