1897.] Geology and Paleontology. 333 
GEOLOGY AND PALEONTOLOGY. 
Alleged Fossil Micrococci.—M. B. Renault communicates to 
the Academy of Sciences (Paris) a note concerning certain Micrococci 
and Bacilli which he has found in Coal-Measures of Saint-Etienne and 
of Commentry. They occur in these formations in considerably larger 
quantities than they do in plants preserved in flint or in carbonate of 
lime. They are, moreover, less varied in form and dimensions than are 
those found in silicified plants, and they are not so much carbonized as 
the plants in which they are found. (Revue Scient., Dec., 1896.) 
Any positive determination of such objects as are figured and described 
by M. Renault must, however, be regarded with suspicion, and some 
new light must be obtained on the process of fossilization before fossil 
Micrococci can be made credible. 
Geology of Luang Prabang.'—The observations made by MM. 
Counillou and Massie during their stay at Luang Prabang, as members 
of the Pavie Mission, show the following facts : 
(1) The existence in the vicinity of the region studied of Productus 
and Schwagerina limestones, which are the equivalent of the Moulmein 
(Birmaine) "beds, or one of the terms of the Salt Range series, and, per- 
haps, of the limestones of Sumatra. 
(2) The presence, to the northwest of Luang Prabang, of a system 
of red clays, limestones and graywackes belonging to the Permian 
period, and exceedingly like the upper part of the Raingung group 
(India). 
(3) The existence of a formation of purple clays and sandstones, be- 
ginning with a pudding-stone, and containing remains of Dicynodonts. 
Up to the present time these reptiles have been discovered only in the 
Karoo beds of South Africa, the Panchet of India and the Elgin of 
Scotland. It is natural then to consider this formation as constituting 
in Laos the base of the Trias. 
(4) As to the limestone of Luang Prabang, although these two geo- 
logists believe its position to be inferior to the red clays, they cannot 
determine its exact age for want of sufficient stratigraphic and paleon- 
tologic data. (Revue Scientif., Jan., 1897.) 
The Position of the Chico-Tejon Beds.—Since the discovery 
of the Chico-Tejon series of marine beds on the Pacific coast by Conrad, 
| Luang Prabang is situated on the left bank of the Mekong, in Coachinchina, 
99° 45’ long. E. and 19° 54’ 20/7 lat. N. 
