366 Personal and Scienf/jic Neics. 
M. Kayser supported the grouping into three grand divisions. 
Mr. Geikie said the grand divisions which were the result of 
the hihor of Murchison were recognized throughout the world. 
These divisions, to the number of three, are concordant with 
those of Barrande. We can differ as to the limits of the sub- 
divisions, questions of detail, but not upon the fact of the three 
divisions. He was opposed to the term Ordovician, as useless, 
and believed that the terms Cambrian,Lower Silurian (which has 
priority) and Upper Siluiran, already adopted in two continents, 
have the advantage of being sufficiently clear and known. 
Mr. Blake believed that in addition to the three grand faunas, 
recognized by all, a fourth fauna appears — that of OleneUus, — 
the importance of which, at the base, would be equal to the 
preceding. He proposed the name Monlin for this new sj's- 
tem which would exist Avith different f acies in England and 
Ireland. 
M. de Lapparent was of the opinion that before reaching a 
decision on the i)art of the Congress, it was important to dispel 
all misunderstanding relative to the base of the Cambrian. 
The Cambrian Avould only be the equivalent of the term Ordov- 
ician if it is limited bv fossiliferous distinctions. If the Cam- 
brim be extended to the limit of the crystalline schists it 
would form a division as important as the two others. 
M. Delgado, with M. Choffat, has indicated on the map of 
Portugal the three divisions already mentioned, but he has in- 
troduced, besides, a fourth term for the old clastic formations. 
Mr. Hull thought that every change of nomenclature ought 
to be based on important considerations; now he did not see any 
that were pressing. The designation of Lower Silurian of 
Murchison has priority over Ordovician. It has the advantage 
of having been applied in all the work done on the continent. 
Tt cannot for that reason pass into synonymy. 
M. Barrois remarked tliat the term Silurian does not lead to 
synonymy on the continent, and that it corresponds to the Or- 
dovician and the Upper Siluvian. The term Cambrian would 
contain two divisions — the upper with Paradoxides, the lower 
generally azoic. 
Mr. Gilbert held the question from a more general point o£ 
view. Boundaries are local questions; names are matters of 
indifference; comparisons, the importance of which is of the 
first order, increase in difficulty with the distances; the future 
will modify our ideas; before attempting systems of classifica- 
tion it is necessary to know the series in other parts of the 
world still unexplored. 
M. Capellini concluded that the division under three term 
of the Cambrian and Silurian terranes appeared to unite th^ 
greater portion of the suffrages. Notwithstanding the general- 
assent he judged it preferable to postpone the vote. 
