1889.] THE DISPLACEMENT OF BEACH-LINES. 49 



as is the case with several, at least, of the French Faluns, still 

 they must be supposed to correspond to 5 oscillations. In a deeper 

 oceau the bottom will not easily be upheaved over the surface 

 during low eccentricities, but yet the oscillations will act in 

 producing changes of fauna and, also, frequently, changes in the 

 nature of the beds. 



The Miocene beds of the Vienna basin are divided into three 

 main „ stages" : the first and second Mediterranean, and the Sar- 

 matian. If we study the detailed profiles more closely, however, 

 there appears, also here, to have been 5 oscillations. The first 

 Mediterranean, shows, thus (cfr. Suess in Sitzber. d. Wiener Akad. 

 math. natw. CI. 1866), in ascending order, the following series 

 of beds: 



The beds at Molt, with oyster shells (broken), at the top 

 brown-coal (lignite), 4 alternations of strata, arc 8'. Is sup- 

 posed by Suess to be from the same horizon as Faluns de 

 Bazas. 



The beds at Loibersdorf, Gauderndorf and Eggenburg, 

 marine, probably with 8 alternations, at least partly, younger 

 than the beds at Molt (arcs 8'? and 9')- 



„Schlier" with gypsum, at the top terrestrial plants. 

 Sitess calls it „ein ersterbendes Meer", and even appears 

 disposed to regard it as an independent stage. Alternations, 

 but scarcely more than a couple. The final part of arc 9'. 



The beds at Grand, marine; to judge from Suess' s pro- 

 files, with few (3—4) alternations. The fauna forms a transi- 

 tion from the first to the second Mediterranean stage, and those 

 beds at Grand are viewed, in the present day, by several 

 Vienna geologists, as representing an independent stage. Arc 10'. 

 After this followed the greatest deluge, the second Mediter- 

 ranean stage (arc 11'), contemporary with the French Faluns de 

 Salles. The sea then rose right up into the interior alpine Vi- 

 enna basin. I have been unable to determine the number of 

 alternations in this stage, and have only seen sections of littoral 

 formations described. 



Finally, the latest Miocene oscillation, the Sarmatian stage, 



Vid.-Selsk. Forh. 1889. No. 1. • - 4 



Mo. Bot. Garden 



