iii 
peculiarities, a greater or lesser range in one locality than in the other, partly be- 
cause the succession of the beds had been studied witli greater exactitude in one 
than in the other place. The former case may be illustrated, for instance, by the 
occurrence of Inoceramtis lahiatus in the Ootatoor group, while both in Prance and 
in Germany the beds with this species are considered as the lowest of the Turonien, 
or Mittel Quader, of which Geinitz says that it is the most characteristic fossil. 
Again, Gryphcea diluviana and carinata and llliijnch. compressa arc stated by 
Geinitz to occur in the upper horizon of the Lower Quader, while in South India 
they are referable to the Trichinopoly group. However, we must not absolutely 
rely upon these facts as strictly correct, for Mr. Blanford himself repeatedly says 
that the boundaries between the different gronps could not in all cases be so care- 
fully ascertained as might be desired ; and besides, a strict classification of the 
beds according to palaeontological zones could hardly be expected to have been 
thoroughly carried out at the time of jMr. Blanford’ s survey. 
This must be the task of a subsequent revision of tbc geological ground, 
on the combined basis of the stratigraphical and palmontological information which 
we have obtained. 
In dealing with this subject one fact must not be overlooked. TV^hen describ- 
ing tbe Cephalopoda, (setting aside the two or three Gastropoda and Pelecypoda), I 
have noticed from the Ootatoor group a comparatively small number of species 
wbicb are, never known to occur in the Cenomanien beds of Europe; I refer to 
such characteristically Neocomien species, as Nautilus Neocomiensis and pseudo- 
elegans, Ammonites Veltedce and Rouyanus, or to such Gault forms as Nauti- 
lus 13 ouchar dianus and Clementinus, Ammonites TimotJieanus and lalidorsatus, 
Turrilites Bergen, Gresslegi and tuherculatus, etc. Some of tliesc and other identi- 
fied species might possibly be shown to be distinct, if really perfeet materials were 
obtained, but others scarceh^ leave any doubt as to -their correct determination. 
It is expected that subsequent researches will show whether the beds containing 
these older species can bo iir any way stratigraphically separated, or whether the 
species themselves possessed in India a higher range in geological time. 
Prof. Eorbes when examining the Pondicherry fossils, the greater number of 
which were from the lower (Valudayur) beds at that locality, pronounced these beds 
to correspond with Xeocomien or Lower Greensand. His argument was less based 
upon specific identifications than upon the general character of the fossils, as, 
for instance, the numerous Anysoceras {Ancyloccras auctorum) and Ilamites. 
