GEOLOGY OF INDIA. 19 



live shells of exact resemblance to them being found in the vicinity, 

 with the exception of nummulites . Silicified-wood has been found in the 

 diluvium of Calcutta and Jehbelpur ; but bones of animals have never yet, 

 we believe, been discovered either in diluvium or in stratified rOcks. In 

 this branch however, the extensive deposits of fossil bones recently dis- 

 covered in Ava, apparently antediluvian, and perhaps the yet unexplored 

 caverns in the limestone strata of Sylhet, Cachar, and Asam, promise a 

 field for future successful research. Of the alluvial delta of Bengal, 

 the bed of the Ganges, and the coTintry to the eastward of it, we are at 

 present unable to add anything of importance to the information given 

 by Dr. Adam, Mr. Scott, and Mr. Benson, in their interesting commu- 

 nications already published, nor do we possess as yet sufficiently con- 

 nected materials for giving even a superficial view of the geological out- 

 lines of the countries to the north-west, but we may look to some zealous 

 explorers now actively employed, for an early extension of our geological 

 knowledge in that direction.* The Bombay Literary Society will, no 

 doubt, be able to collect much interesting information from that quarter, 

 especially as it is understood that the coal field long since discovered in 

 Cutch, by the late Captain McMurdo, is now likely to be worked, 

 I have said nothing about the lead mines of Ajmer, nor of the ores of that 

 and other metals that have been discovered and worked in former times, 

 in various parts of India, particularly the extensive and important class 

 of iron ores, which abound almost every where, and in greater variety 

 than, perhaps, is to be found in any other country.! 



From 



* Specimens said to be from the Province of Cutch, have been seen by Dr. Ha r die, which 

 lead him to expect that we shall, in all probability, discover, in that quarter, some of the newer class 

 of rocks posterior to the lias, which are in so remarkable a degree wanting in other quarters of India. 



\ Captain Franklin has been engaged in examining the iron ores of the valley of the Ner- 

 mada, and Captains Coulthard and Dickson, in the districts of Sagar and Ajmer, have fur- 

 nished interesting communications, which will appear in our Researches. 



