6 
THE GEOLOGIST. 
term a varied mineral group, which neither in Germany 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 AYeissliegende, Kupfer-Schiefer, and Lower and Up- 
per Zechstein, and in England of Lower E-ed Sandstone and Magne- 
sian Limestone, with other accompanying 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 Flora is peculiar and charac- 
teristic of this supra-carboniferous deposit. In England, France, 
and x\merica 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 Eothliegende below, and the Zech- 
stein above, the latter being separated abruptly from all overlying 
deposits. 
]N"ow, not doubting that this arrangement suits certain localities, 
I affirm that it is entirely inapplicable to many other tracts. For, 
in other regions besides Kussia, the series of sands, pebbles, marls, 
gypseous, cupriferous, and calcareous deposits form but one great 
series. In short, the Permian deposits are for ever varying. Thus, 
in one district they constitute a Monas onh-, 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 tlie Principal Results of a Greological Survey 
of Russia." 
* It is true that the term Peneen was formerly proposed by my eminent 
friend, M. d'Omalius d'Halloy ; but as that name, meaning sterile, was taken 
from an insulated mass of conglomerate near Malmedy in Belgium, in wliich 
nothing organic was ever discovered, it was manifest that it coidd not be con- 
tinued in use as apphed to a group which was rich in animal and vegetable pro- 
ductions. 
t Trans. Greol. Soc. London, New Series, vol. iii. p. 37. 
;j: I may here note that the great Damuda formation of Bengal, with its fossil 
Flora and animal remains, including Saurians and Labyrmthodonts, described by 
Professor Huxley, has recently been referred (at least provisionally) to the Per- 
mian age, by Dr. Oldham, the Superintendent of the Greological Survey of India. 
In fact, Dr. Oldham actually cites the plant Tceniopteris, of the " Permian beds 
of Geinitz and Gutbier in Saxony" in justification of his opinion. See ' Memoirs 
of the Geological Survey of India,' vol. iii. p. 204. 
§ See 'Siluria,' 2nd edit., 1859, and 'Russia in Europe and the Ural Momi- 
tains,' 18 i5. 
