114 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION. 
perfectly satisfied that if a quantity could be obtained it 
would be of great use in the operations of the sugar works, 
although, from the proximity to the surface, and the conse- 
quent exposure to atmospheric and aqueous deterioration, 
the specimens employed must have been much inferior to 
that existing at a depth. The only beds at present known — 
three in number — are intersected by the Savanetta river on 
the Caracas estate. The thicknesses are twenty inches for 
the upper and twelve inches each for the two lower seams. 
They are associated with clays, sands, and peculiar blue and 
grey shales, which repose on an extremely ferruginous 
stratum, under which are the limestones and calcareous 
sandstones of the Montserrat hills, near the base of which 
range the strata in question are situated. Proceeding north 
towards the plain of Couva, the carboniferous clays and 
shales are soon covered with loose sands, so that their ex- 
tension in this direction is at present indeterminate. The 
section (Fig. 4) illustrates the stratigraphical relations just 
described. 
In mineral character, these beds of lignitic coal bear con- 
siderable resemblance to specimens of a similar substance 
discovered at Pointe Noir ; and the geologists have ascer- 
tained that both belong to the same formation, which 
extends, as described in their Report, across the island. 
In passing from the centre of the ridge (in the vicinity of 
Tamana) to the Caroni, the sequence showed in Fig. 5 was 
observed. In this section there is a much greater develop- 
ment of the same ferruginous stratum as exists at Couva ; 
but one passes directly from it to the sands, without tra- 
versing any intervening clays or shales. If then the car- 
boniferous series exist there they must be concealed by the 
greater extent and thickness of the sands in this locality. 
