147 



IT. — Farther observations on the Pondicherry Fossils % 

 C. T. Kaye Esq. 



In the Madras Journal of Literature for November 18-10 

 I attempted to describe the beds of fossiliferous limestone in the 

 neighbourhood of Pondicherry and ventured to express a hope 

 that further researches would lead to interesting and impoitant 

 discoveries. That expectation has since been fully realized. 

 In Dr. McLellan's Calcutta Journal for July 1841 vol. II. No. 

 vi. p 238 some particulars of these discoveries were given, but 

 since that account was written, our acquaintance with the fos- 

 sils of the deposit has made still further progress, and 1 am 

 therefore induced before quitting the country, to leave a short 

 noti'ce of the organic remains which the rock contains. I do 

 not indeed attempt to particularize the numerous variety of 

 marine shells, as to do so requires a much greater knowledge 

 of conchology than I possess, and perhaps the most experi- 

 enced conchologist could hardly hope to describe them with- 

 out an opportunity of comparison with collections, which 

 the museums of Europe alone contain. A few of the prin- 

 cipal and most curious of these remains will therefore be 

 alone noticed. 



Nautilus. — This shell was first discovered in January 1841 

 in large numbers. Dr. McLellan distinguished three spe- 

 cies, but as they have been described in his number they do 

 not require any further notice at present. 



Ammonites. — A very great variety of this extinct shell, I 

 think at least thirteen or fourteen distinct species, have been 

 discovered since the communication in Dr. McLellan's journal 

 was penned. These in general run small, a few only of con- 

 siderable size having been found. Many of the species ap- 

 pear to me to be remarkable, from the absence of those bars 

 and bosses which usually fortify the European species, and 

 after a careful examination of Sowerby's Min : Con : and 



