SUMMARY OF THE NEW RED SYSTEM. 



67 



masses, may represent the German deposit. If, however, we are to understand the 

 foreign synonym, to express a series of strata, elaborated in such a manner, as in some 

 cases completely to connect the carboniferous and overlying system ; then it is clear we 

 must consider the Lower New Red Sandstone to be its true and full equivalent, even 

 should it not contain a single pebble of trap. That it contains few or no fragments of 

 trap in the North of England, has already been proved by Professor Sedgwick, and the 

 same fact is now established in the central counties ; whilst on the other hand the great 

 trappean conglomerates have been shown to overlie this equivalent of the Rothe-todte- 

 liegende, and to be on the same parallel with the dolomitic conglomerate. Referring to 

 former opinions on this point Professor Sedgwick has well observed, " In comparing the 

 Bristol and Exeter conglomerates with the Rothe-todte-liegende, our geologists made 

 use of the best evidence with which they were acquainted. But the New Red Sand- 

 stone group is now better understood ; and in future comparisons with Continental de- 

 posits of the same age, we should use as our types those sections which are most com- 

 plete, instead of the Bristol or Exeter overlying groups, in which more than one half of 

 the series is absolutely wanting." Geol. Trans., vol. iv. p. 400. 1 



The trappean ridges of Malvern, Abberley and Clent, will be described in the sequel ; 

 but in the mean time it may be observed, that as the red conglomerates on their flanks 

 contain angular and rounded fragments of the trap composing those hills, the rocks 

 from which such debris was derived, must have been in existence before the conglome- 

 rate was formed. Now, the rupture between the New Red Sandstone and the carboni- 

 ferous deposits, as marked by the dislocations along the line of the Abberley Hills, 

 would certainly lead us to suppose, that the eruptions which gave rise to these hills took 

 place, either during the accumulation of the upper coal-measures, or of the Lower New 

 Red Sandstone ; for, without anticipating explanations which are to follow in the en- 

 suing chapter, it may be asserted, that nothing is more consistent with modern and 

 ancient analogies, than that such volcanic eruptions should have been mere local phe- 

 nomena, which in the tracts where they prevailed (Devon, Abberley, Clent, &c.) may 

 have occupied the place of the Lower New Red Sandstone, by interfering with its de- 

 position, while in the tracts not visited by these outbursts, the formation would naturally 

 be fully developed, and would there exhibit the unbroken connexion between the New 

 Red and Carboniferous Systems which has been detailed in the previous pages. 



1 I may here state, that after a recent examination of Devonshire and Somersetshire, by Professor Sedgwick 

 and myself, we were unable to separate the lower part of the New Red Sandstone of that country, into two for- 

 mations, like those of the northern and central counties ; and I am requested by my friend to say that he with- 

 draws the qualifying expression (respecting the Exeter conglomerates) used in the Postscript to the memoir 

 cited, and adheres to the opinion above quoted. (March 1837.) See Geol. Trans, iv. p. 403. 



