230 
THE GEOLOGIST. 
between tlie well known carboniferous strata beneath and tbe 
less perfectly defined trias above it. The author at first sugges- 
ted that the group (so designated from the ancient kingdom of 
Permia_, which is exclusively occupied by it^) should combine 
those deposits known under the name of Rothe-todte-liegende 
(lower new red of England,) Kupfer Schiefer, Zechstein, &c. 
(magnesian limestone, &c.) Subsequently, however, he was dis- 
posed to doubt whether it might not be more correct to class the 
Rothe-todte-liegende with the coal-bearing deposits beneath it, 
than with the Zechstein, because the plants of the lower red 
sandstone could not be distinguished from those of the coal mea- 
sures. Revisiting Hesse, Saxony, Silesia, the Thuringerwald, 
and other parts of Germany, Mr. Mmxhison has obtained what 
he considers proof that the E-othe-todte-liegende is part and 
parcel of the same natural group as the Zechstein, and must 
therefore be considered part of the Permian system. He has also 
convinced himself that the great deposit hitherto known under the 
denomination of Bunter-sandstein, Gres bigarre, or new red sand- 
stone, should be divided into two parts, the lower of which ought to 
be classed with the Permian, and separated from the trias, with 
which it had been merged. To prove the first of these positions, 
or that the Rothe-todte-hegende is a part of the Permian group, 
Mr. Murchison cited the order of succession in numerous sec- 
tions in Germany, showing an interrupted sequence from the 
lower red conglomerate sandstone and shale into the overlying 
Zechstein. It is a question whether the plants of these lower 
red rocks can be distinguished, as a whole, from those of the 
subjacent coal measures, plants being, as yet, the only organic 
remains found in them. From his observations in Saxony, and 
particularly from an inspection of the fossil plants collected and 
partly described by Captain Gutbier, Mr. Mm'chison believes 
that such a separation exists. Among the coal-plants of Saxony 
are forms of Neuropteris closely approaching to, if not identical 
with, those species which occur in the Permian rocks, whilst there 
