LIFE 43 1 



continued during the Permian period itself, in consequence of 

 which the Upper Permian has an entirely different distribution 

 from the Lower, overlapping the latter in various directions, and 

 resting upon Carboniferous and older strata. Volcanic eruptions 

 were frequent and extensive, and great masses of eruptive rocks 

 are interbedded in the Permian of England, Germany, and 

 southern France. In north Germany were formed enormous 

 deposits of rock salt, some of them many thousands of feet in 

 thickness. 



Southern Europe and Russia have an entirely different aspect or 

 facies of the Permian. In the former region the development is 

 marine, with an abundant marine fauna, which displays a gradual 

 transition from that of the Upper Carboniferous. In the Alps are 

 sandstones and limestones, and in Sicily most interesting transi- 

 tional limestones. The Mediterranean belt was thus part of the 

 great ocean, while northwestern Europe was covered by closed 

 seas and salt lakes. 



In Russia the Permian covers thousands of square miles ; its 

 lowest member shows the presence of a sea which extended from 

 the Arctic Ocean, along the west flank of the Ural Mountains, to 

 the extended Mediterranean. Later, however, a closed basin was 

 formed in Russia also, in which sandstones, marls, limestones, and 

 gypsum were deposited. Occasional irruptions of the ocean are 

 indicated by strata bearing marine shells. 



The marine facies of the Permian recurs in Asia, in the valley of 

 the Araxes, in Bokhara, and in the Salt Range of northern India. 

 The Arctic islands of Spitzbergen and New Scotland display Per- 

 mian beds. 



The Permian of the Southern Hemisphere is of remarkable 

 interest, and will be briefly considered in a section at the close of 

 the chapter. 



Permian Life 



We have to note, in the first place, that the life of the Permian 

 is transitional between that of the Palaeozoic and of the Mesozoic 

 eras, transitional both in the animals and plants. Here we find 



