OOLITES OF GERMANY. 



IS9 



In the above sections it will be seen, that though there is a great 

 general resemblance between the principal members in each series, 

 there is a considerable difference in the number and succession of 

 the minor beds ; there is also some diversity in the fossils in each 

 series. By a comparison of both sections, it will appear, that the 

 attempt to establish an identity of beds, or even of what are called 

 equivalents in the minor strata of a great formation in different dis- 

 tricts, is a useless labour, and serves only to perplex the student, 

 without leading to any useful conclusions. Nor do I think the long 

 lists of marine shells, in a formation decidedly marine, can be of any 

 great use, unless such shells discover some new forms of organic life 

 distinct from what has been before observed, or enable us to infer 

 some change in the condition of the globe, when the inhabitants of 

 such shells first appeared. The section of Mr. J. Phillips, being a 

 coast section, has the disadvantage of not being made in the true line 

 of dip, and that of Mr. Lonsdale was unavoidably taken in different 

 situations where the upper and under strata were not always display- 

 ed ; hence such sections can be regarded as only valuable approxi^ 

 mations to truth in each district. In Yorkshire, the Kimmeridge 

 clay is wanting, and the oolites are covered by the chalk formation, 

 in the lower part of which, called the Speeton clay, some fossils of 

 the Kimmeridge clay were discovered. 



The imperfect coal formations in the Yorkshire oolites, contain 

 impressions and remains of fossil plants of the same families as those 

 in the regular coal formation, but which are stated by M. Adolphe 

 Brongniart to belong to different species. 



The attempt has been frequently made, to identify the secondary 

 strata of Germany with those of England. The following abridged 

 view of the secondary strata in the north-east part of Bavaria, in 

 Bohemia, and in Westphalia, by R. J. Murchison, Esq. taken partly 

 from his own observations, and partly from what he believes to be 

 the best authorities, appears to be the most satisfactory and intelligi- 

 ble approximation to the English series of secondary formations that 

 has yet been made : it confirms the previous statement given by Pro- 

 fessor Sedgwick and Mr. Murchison. The order of succession in a 

 descending series is here given. 



Chalk. f In Hanover, clearly separated from green-sand. 



Green-sand ' Divisible into upper calcareous and lower siliceous 



<^ sandstone. 



Oolite and coral ragg, not yet discovered in central 

 ^Germany. 



' Between Kehlheim on the S. E., and Pappenheim on 

 the N. W. ; the quarry at SolenhofFen is worked for litho- 



Portland oolite. 



SolenhofFen slate, 



Stonesfield slate. 



or supposed ' graphic stone. The fossil contents are pterodactyli, in- 



sects, crustaceons animals, and tellenites, with certain 

 plants : these fossils are similar to those found in Stones- 

 ^ field slate, and occur in a similar geological position. 

 Middle oolite ^ "^^^^ ^ ^^^^ formation differ much in their miner- 



Jura kalk, J characters in different parts of Germany, but contain 



( many of the fossils in the English middle oolites. 



