AGE OF THE LYCIAN ROCKS. 185 



The first epoch indicated is that of the formation 

 of the scaglia, which was probably deposited as very 

 fine sediment in a deep sea. This we infer from 

 the mineral character of the rock, its uniformity, 

 the extreme scarcity of fossils in it ; and when 

 organic remains are present, those being mostly 

 foraminifera, such as the nummulites, especially 

 such species as, from their thin flat wafer-like 

 forms and large size, were not adapted for 

 shallow water. The uppermost beds of the 

 scaglia are generally brecchiated, and in those 

 we find the larger organic remains, indicating 

 a lesser depth. This scaglia is usually referred 

 to the Cretaceous sera ; but judging from the 

 singular assemblage of fossils found in some 

 parts of it, as at Mount Lebanon, and from its 

 great thickness, extent, and uniformity of mineral 

 character, it is not improbable that it was a for- 

 mation, the deposition of which went on without 

 interruption in the depths of a great ocean during 

 the whole of the secondary and cretaceous 

 epochs. 



The history of the sandy beds which rest upon 

 the scaglia is more difficult to understand, unless 

 we suppose a considerable and sudden change 

 of level of the sea-bed previous to their deposi- 



