38 
CONGRES GEOLOGIQUE INTERNATIONAL. 
Feb., 1890. 
do not think that the huge Devonian development of the 
Continent is any argument whatever against the adoption of 
the terms Proterozoic and Deuterozoic or their equivalents. 
My only objection to the use of those terms is that, whatever 
may be said about the Monian system of Professor Blake, 
future researches may disclose an earlier fauna in Pre-Cam¬ 
brian rocks, and in such case the base of the Proterozoic 
would have to be carried lower. 
I have given this discussion so fully for two reasons—one, 
that it bears so closely on the work of our President, Dr. 
Lapworth ; and the other as showing the influential character 
of the speakers, and the representative nature of the Congress. 
But I must be shorter with the other discussions, or I shall 
sorely weary you, and also have no space left for other 
matters, which in their way are quite as important and 
perhaps more interesting. I will, therefore, for the remaining 
sittings deal with the subjects rather than the particular speakers. 
Another point in connection with classification and nomen¬ 
clature occupied the sitting of Thursday, the 20th September, 
and centred in the question whether the term “ Quaternary” 
should be used as applied to an era distinct from “ Tertiary,” 
and, if used, where should be the limit between the Tertiary 
and Quaternary. It was generally felt that, notwithstanding 
the insignificant thickness of the Quaternary strata, the advent 
of man and the existing mammals was sufficient to render this 
era (epoquej absolutely distinct from the Tertiary. Professor 
Prestwicli advocated the “Forest-bed” as the base of the 
Quaternary in England. 
This Committee or Commission on Nomenclature and 
Classification, which was appointed at the Bologna meeting 
in 1881, in addition to the reports of the British and American 
Sub - Committees, presented through its secretary, M. 
Dewalque, a very valuable report, which is likely to be the 
basis of international geology for many years to come. The 
Commission’s work is, in the main, ended ; but it was re¬ 
appointed, with somewhat extended powers, to report to the 
next Congress at Philadelphia in 1891. 
The other Commission appointed at Bologna related to the 
Map of Europe; and its report was presented by Dr. W. 
Hauchecorne, of Berlin. Some parts of Central Europe will 
be ready for publication during the next two years. The 
scale adopted is 1: 1,500,000 ( i.e ., 1 inch = 23*673 miles) ; 
and the map will consist of forty-nine sheets. The colours 
are somewhat different from those we are accustomed to in 
England, but it will be a great advantage to have uniformity 
of colouring for all European countries. 
( To be continued. 
