6 



THE GEOLOGIST. 



term a varied mineral group, which neither in G-ermany nor else- 

 where had then received one collective name* adopted by geolo- 

 gists, albeit it was characterized by one typical group only of animal 

 and vegetable remains. As the subdivisions of this group in G-er- 

 many consisted, in ascending order, of Eothliegende, with its over- 

 lying strata of Weissliegende, Kupfer-Schiefer, and Lower and Up- 

 per Zechstein, and in England of Lower E.ed Sandstone and Magne- 

 sian Limestone, with other accoinpanyiug sands, marls, etc., so well 

 described by Sedgwick,t the name of Permian" — purposely de- 

 signed to comprehend these various strata — was readily adopted, and 

 has since been generally used. Even Geinitz himself, as well as his 

 associate Gutbier, published a work under the name of the ' Per- 

 mische System in Sachsen.'J Naumann has also used the term in 

 reference to the group in other parts of Saxony ; whilst Goppert has 

 clearly shown that the rich Permian Elora is peculiar and charac- 

 teristic of this supra-carboniferous deposit. In England, Erance, 

 and America no other term in reference to this group has been used 

 for the last fifteen years. 



The chief reason assigned by Geinitz for the substitution of the 

 word " Dyas " is, that in parts of Germany the group is divided into 

 two essential parts only — the Kothliegende below, and the Zecli- 

 stein above, the latter being separated abruptly from all overlying 

 deposits. > 



iSTow, not doubting that this arrangement suits certain localities, 

 I affirm that it is entirely inapplicable to many other tracts. Eor, 

 in other regions besides E-ussia, the series of sands, pebbles, marls, 

 gypseous, cupriferous, and calcareous deposits form but one great 

 series. Li short, the Permian deposits are for ever varying. Thus, 

 in one district they constitute a Moms only, in others a 3i/as, in a 

 third a Trias, and in a fourth a Tetras.^ 



In this way many of the natural sections of the north of Germany 

 differ essentially from those of Saxony ; whilst those of Silesia differ 

 still more from each other in their mineral subdivisions, as explained 



vol. xix. p. 418, " Sketch of some of the Prmcipal EosiUts of a Greological Stu'vey 

 of Russia." 



* It is true that tlie term Peneen was foraierly proposed by my eminent 

 friend, M. d'OmaUns d'Halloy ; bnt as that name, meanmg sterile, was taken 

 from an insulated mass of conglomerate near Mahnedj in Belgiiun, in wkich 

 nothing organic was ever discovered, it was manifest that it coidd not be con- 

 timied m use as applied to a group which was rich in animal and vegetable pro- 

 ductions. 



t Trans. G-eol. Soc. London, New Scries, vol. iii. p. 37. 



X I may here note that the great Damuda formation of Bengal, with its fossil 

 Flora and animal remains, including Saurians and Labvrinthodonts, described by 

 Professor lluxlcv, has recently been referred (at least provisionally) to the Per- 

 mian age, by Dr. Oldham, the Superhitendent of the Geological Suiwey of India. 

 In fact, Dr. Oldham actually cites the plant Tceniopferis, of the " Permian beds 

 of Geinitz and Outlier in Sa.roni/,^^ in justification of his opiiiion. See ' Memou's 

 of the Geological Svu-vey of India,' vol. iii. p. 204-. 



§ Sec * Siluria,' 2ud edit., 1859, and 'Russia in Eiu'ope and the Ural Moun- 

 tains,' 18 i5. 



