Notes on Geological Specimens, fyc 



[July 



3d. I entertain little doubt that the basaltic formation of the valley 

 of Berar and the basin of the Panah river, which falls into the Tapti, 

 belongs to the period of eruption which elevated the Nirmul fossils 

 from the bed of the sea ; before, however, coming to this conclusion, 

 with reference to the northern part of the valley, the connection be- 

 tween the localities of the Nirmul and Chiknee fossils with those of 

 the Gawilgurh hills (A. R. vol. 17th) must be ascertained. 



4th. The exact relations of the crater of Lonar to the great volcanic 

 district to the N. W. where fossils have not yet been met with. 



But as the difficulties opposed to the investigation of the greater 

 part of such wild and unhealthy tracts will probably prevent these 

 desiderata being soon supplied ; I hope that a sufficient number of or- 

 ganic remains have been obtained from the central point of the district, 

 to enable an experienced geologist to arrive at a tolerably correct esti~ 

 mate of the relative age of part of the great trap formation of the 

 N. W. of India, which the President of the Geological Society in the 

 anniversary address to that body in 1833, stated to be quite unknown : 

 f* no vestiges of secondary or tertiary formations having been detected 

 within the region described." 



*#* We could not do otherwise than transfer the foregoing to our 

 pages, both on account of the interest imparted to it from the well 

 known character of the author within this Presidency, and because it 

 refers to a district in the Madras provinces concerning which Madras 

 readers alone are likely to have the means of affording information, on 

 the points stated by Mr. Malcolmson to be still in need of further en- 

 quiry and elucidation. We are also very desirous of imparting a taste 

 for geological studies throughout the Madras Presidency, where so 

 little has been done until lately in that department of Science. The 

 progress made by Bengal geologists has been so exceedingly great, 

 that it behoves those interested in science on this side of India, to be- 

 stir themselves, if there is any ambition amongst us not to be left be- 

 hind in the intellectual race. 



Mr. Malcolmson has erroneously ascribed to Colonel Cullen the ap- 

 plication of the term " argillaceous" to the Cuddapah limestone. In 

 that gentleman's paper on the Geological features of a route from 

 Madras to Bellary, contained in the Madras Transactions, that word is 

 not employed to designate the rock. 



It will also be observed that Dr. Benza, in the first article of this 

 number, attributes the original discovery of the fossils near Rajah- 

 mundry, to Colonel Cullen who deposited specimens in the Cabinet 

 of the Society in 1822. — Editor Madras Journals 



