629 



latter may be only an upper shelf of zechstein. 

 This immediate covering* # , this suppression of 

 interposed soils, this simplicity of structure, and 

 absence of oolithic layers, have been equally ob- 

 served by able geognosts, in Upper Silesia and 

 in the Pyrenees ^. On the other hand, the im- 

 mediate superposition of the limestone of Cu- 

 inanacoa on mica-slate and transition clayslate, 

 the rarity of the petrifications which have not 

 yet been sufficiently examined, the layers of 

 silex passing* to lydian stone, may lead to the 

 belief that the soils of Cumanacoa and Caripe 

 are of a much more antient formation than the 

 secondary rocks. We must not be surprised 

 that the doubts of the geognost, when obliged 

 to decide on the relative age of the limestone of 

 the high mountains in the Pyrenees, the Appe- 

 nines (south of the lake of Perugia,) and in the 

 Swiss Alps, extend to the lime-stone soils of the 

 high mountains of New Andalusia, and every 

 where in America where the presence of red 

 sandstone is not distinctly recognised. 



IX. SANDSTONE OF BERGANTIN. 



Between Nueva Barcelona and las Cerro del 

 Bergantin (Vol. vi, p. 162) a quartzous sand- 



* L. c. p. 281, 291. 



f Cart von Oeyhausen, p. 258. 450 ; Charpentier, p. 444, 

 446, 



