THE PERMIAN PERIOD. 



631 



features which show that the general attitude of the continent was 

 comparable to that of North America at the same time. In both 

 continents there are beds which accumulated in fresh water; in both, 

 beds which were laid down in salt lakes or inland seas; and in both, 

 beds deposited on the floor of epicontinental seas. Great areas in 

 both continents seem to have maintained a halting attitude near the 



Fig. 290. — Sketch map of Europe during the later part of the Permian period. The 

 lines indicate areas of marine deposition, the broken lines areas of lagoon deposits; 

 and the dots, areas of continental (land) deposition. (After De Lapparent.) 



critical level during much of the period, while in both continents there 

 were considerable areas of dry land. 



The differences between the continents are not less instructive than 

 the likenesses. The Permian period was distinguished in Europe by 

 great igneous activity, while that of America, though marked by the 

 growth of mountains, was essentially non-igneous. The Permian 

 system of Europe seems to be more closely allied, stratigraphically, 

 with the Trias than with the Carboniferous, and while the same is 

 true of the western part of North America, the opposite is true for 

 the eastern part. 



