214 
REVIEW OF THE PERMIAN FOSSILS. 
the animal life of the epoch. Yet here again, as in the preceding and subsequent 
ages, we can by no means bring the Russian succession of Permian strata into a 
detailed stratigraphical analogy with that of Western Europe. Thus, for example, 
as we have before explained, the calcareous courses of Russia occasionally inosculate 
with great thicknesses of fossiliferous grit ; but the Saurians, fishes, certain Pro- 
ducti and Modiolae, with most of the plants, unquestionably occur in conglome- 
rates, sands, tufaceous limestones and marls which overlie the beds with Zechstein 
fossils. In Germany, on the other hand, the Protorosaurus, so long known there in 
the deposits of this age, occurs in the Kupfer-schiefer or beds beneath the Zech- 
stein. It is true, that over enormous areas of Russia, we were enabled to detect 
fossils in the superior strata at wide intervals only'. Long-continued and minute 
labours to discover fossils were indeed incompatible with the chief object of our re- 
searches, which was necessarily directed to the general classification of the deposits, 
which in Russia are spread over such wide districts. Still, in justice to ourselves, 
we must say, that in overcoming the obstacles which we encountered, in order to 
arrive at a true estimate of the equivalents of the Permian group, we neglected no 
means within our reach. In proof of this we may state, that our list contains fifty- 
three Russian species, a greater number than that of any preceding author who 
has described deposits of this age in Western Europe, where they have been so 
long under examination. This fact, considering the rapid nature of our journey 
and the very few fossils of this age known in these regions, before we traversed 
them 2 , proves, as we might indeed expect, that the number of Permian fossils will 
be found to be in proportion to the extent of the sea of that epoch, the bottom of 
which has been explored. 
To enable our readers to form their own conclusions on this point, let us cast a 
rapid glance over the various fossil lists which have been published by authors 
who have described the Zechstein of Germany or of England. 
Schlotheim 3 , who first paid attention to the organic remains of this group, de- 
scribes fifteen species only. 
1 Tcrebratukc have been since found by Count Keyserling on the banks of the river Suchona, in beds 
wherein we did not detect fossils. ( See Map, and p. 1 / / .) 
5 Our excellent friend Major Wangenheim Von Qualen is the only person of our acquaintance, who 
residing in the heart of the Permian region, occupies himself in collecting fossils. 1 o him is due the 
discovery of the Saurians described by Fischer and mentioned by ourselves, and we learn whilst we write, 
that he has found an almost entire skeleton of one of these animals. 
3 Denkschriften der Miin. Akad., 1817, vol. vi. 
