Revieics — Hcer’s Primmal World of Sicitzerland. 81 
“ In Switzerland no fossil remains of the Permian period have 
been preserved, altbough some of tbe Swiss rock-masses probably 
belong to tbis epocb.” Tbe Muschelkalk, witb its salt-deposits, is 
met with on the left bank of tbe Rhine extending from Ryburg 
(near Rheinfelden) to Basle. Borings at Schweizerhall, between 
Basle and Augst, revealed a deposit of rock-salt 30 feet tbick at 
a depth of 420 feet. At Rheinfelden it is probably 60 feet in 
tbickness. 
At Salzburg and Berchtesgaden tbe salt is mined dry by means of 
numerous horizontal workings ; but at Rheinfelden, Schweizerhall, 
Augst and Ryburg tbe wet metbod is adopted. Water is conducted 
tbrough the salt and is tben puraped out and evaporated ; in this 
way about 590,000 cwt. of salt are produced annually. Salt works 
also exist at Bex in tbe Canton de Vaud. 
Good figures of the characteristic fossils of the Muschelkalk, e.g. 
Ceratites nodosus, Nautilus bidorsatus, Encrinus liliiformis, Pemplnx 
Sueurii, etc., are given. Tbis is the case witb eacb formation described 
throughout tbis work. 
In tbe Keuper of Basle, we meet with tbose gigantic Horse-tails 
( Eqnisetum arenaceum), whicb for size might fairly rival some of tbe 
Calamites of the Coal Period. A very effective coloured plate, 
illustrative of the Flora of tbe Keuper period, witb its Tree-ferns, 
Voltzias, and Equisetaceat, deserves to be specially noticed. 
From the Keuper Period of Basle we pass to tbe Liassic formation 
of Scliambelen in the Canton Aargau, and bere, as also in the suc- 
ceeding Jurassic Period, Prof. Heer unfolds before us tbe rieb 
treasures of the sea witb its Ammonites. its Pentacrinites, its Star- 
fisbes and shells, its Shrimps and Lobsters and fishes witb 
enamelled scales. 
Tbe Lias is rieh in fossil forms, but tbe Jura is even richer still ; 
for besides abundance of marine organisms, we have a most 
interesting revelation of the Contemporary terrestrial fauna and 
flora preserved to us. The Swiss in his inlaud valley is far from 
tbe sbores of the ocean of to-day, yet be resides in a vast marine 
bay left dry by tbe retiring waters ; and tbe rocky walls around bim 
were once great Coral-reefs, within wbose sbelter lived and died 
Fishes and Mollusca, Echinoderms and Crustacea without number, 
and upon wbose dry and higher island summits once grew the 
Zamia and tbe Palm-tree, wbilst, fearless of aldermen, tbe Turtles 
and the Lizards laid their eggs or rested peacefully upon its beacbes. 
If tben it be a pleasure to wander along tbe sea-coast, gatbering 
the productions of the sea left at our feet by the retiring tide, bow 
great must be our interest and surprise as we wander among the 
Swiss mountains to gather tbe relics of the fauna of tbe sea-shores 
of a primmval world ! 
But the geologist can do more than tbis ; for without dredge or 
diver’s aid he can study eacb zone of life in tbis ancient sea from its 
shore-line witb Patellas and Purpuras, Nerifas and Mytili, down to 
tbe 100-fathom line, each depth marked by its special residents, its 
DECADE n. VOL. IV. NO. II. 
6 
