GERMAN EQUIVALENTS OF THE PERMIAN SYSTEM. 20 1 
are found so intimately united, that the discovery of any Permian fossils in the 
overlying rocks, would at once compel geologists to place both series of beds in the 
same natural group. Now, in Germany, this next overlying mass of rocks (the 
Bunter Sandstein) is divided into two members, the lower of which is composed 
chiefly of sandstone, and the upper of marl ; and in the lower of these, as far as 
our knowledge goes, no fossil remains have yet been found, with the exception of 
the Catamites arenarius, a plant which has been supposed to have a close affinity 
to, if indeed it be distinguishable from, one of the carboniferous forms. 
Under these negative circumstances in Germany, and with the positive evi- 
dences derived from Russia, that the palaeozoic type of the Zechstein is continued 
into sandstones and conglomerates above that rock, particularly through certain im- 
bedded plants, we think that the lower part of the Bunter Sandstein in Germany 
(occuriing as it does in exactly the same stratigraphical position as the upper con- 
glomerates, marls and sands in Russia) must be separated from the Trias and united 
with the Zechstein. 
In throwing out this suggestion, we by no means wish to abstract from the 
Trias the whole of the lowermost of its three members. We long ago examined 
in situ those sections near Strasburg and other places, which, by means of a con- 
tinuous series of animal and vegetable remains, unquestionably connect certain 
underlying red marls and sands with the Muschelkalk. We simply point out, that 
as the thick deposit of Bunter Sandstein is, according to the newest German au- 
thorities, divisible (lithologically 1 ) into two members, the lowest band, or a part of 
it, may be placed on the parallel of beds occupying a similar position in Russia, 
and in which palseozoic types prevail ; whilst the upper Bunter marls and the “ Gres 
bigarre properly so called, will doubtless continue to form the true base of the 
Trias or secondary rocks (see woodcut, p. 204). The state of the case, when fairly 
put, seems to be this. The region of Permia has first afforded proofs of the palae- 
ozoic shells and plants being extended upwards into red deposits above the Zech- 
stein, whilst the strata occupying a similar position in other parts of Europe have 
not yet contributed any opposing evidence, either as regards stratigraphical arrange- 
ment or fossil contents. 
In England there is, we apprehend, little difficulty in grouping the various 
members above the coal-measures, which constitute or represent the Permian 
system. The most important of them were long ago ably described by Professor 
1 See Table prepared by M. Cotta, attached to the geological maps of Saxony prepared by Professor 
Nautnann and himself. We may add, that in a letter to us, Professor Naumann sees no objection to our 
proposed classification. 
