PAiiT 1.] Blanford: Palcsontologieal Relations of the Gondwdna Sydm. 115 
middle of a long paper, which nine-tenths of the readers of the “ Records ” in all 
probability never heard of. As the matter stands, Dr. Feistmantel charges mo 
with his own blunder, precisely as he did in the matter of Oangamopteris,^ 
although he subsequently apologized for his remarks in the latter case.“ 
Part II. 
The age of the Gondwdna groups. 
I. —Umta (Each) and Jabalpde. —I proceed to answer Dr. Feistmantol’s notes 
on the age of some of the Gondwana groups, and will commence, as he has done,® 
with the uppermost, the Umia beds of Cutch (Kach or Kachh.) It is agreed that 
the Cephalopoda of these beds have uppermost Jurassic affinities, and that the 
plants, which are in strata overlying those containing the Cephalopoda, are 
related to English lower oolitic (midcUo Jurassic) foi*ms, but it is urged by 
Dr. Feistmantel, in opposition to Dr. Waagen,* that “it is very possible that the 
full examination of ilie fauna may modify the stratigraphical relations as deduced 
from the Cephalopoda,” and again,® “ I may hero remark that from a cursory inspec¬ 
tion I have made of the Kach collections, I do not think they will bear out the 
inferences based upon the Cephalopoda as to the Tithonian horizon of the upper 
members of the series.” 
It is as well to quote the first passage further. Dr. Feistmantel says— 
“ There are certainly some mollusca that are generally of older age than Portlandian, passing 
into the higher beds of Kach. 
“ a. —1 may mention only from the TJmia group (which contains the Portlandian Cephalopoda) 
tlie very frequent occurrence of— 
“ Goniompa V-seripta, which mostly occurs in middle Jurassic beds in Europe. 
Astarte major. Sow., very near with Astarte maxima, Om., from middle Jura in Germany, 
“ A Trigonia near Trigonia vau, Sharpe, from Jurassic beds on the Sunday river in South 
Africa. 
“A Goniomga se^rcclg different from Goniompa inflala Ag., a middle Jurassic form—also 
related with Goniomya rhomhifera, Goldf. from liassie strata, 
** A Trigonia very near to T. Herzogii, Hausm, from Enon on the Sunday river in South 
Africa. 
“ Some Trigotiim allied with Tr. ventricasa in South Africa. 
A portion of the lower Jaw Junction® of a Plenosaums which has mostly allied forms in the 
English lias—^fouud near Borooria in the Umia group.” 
I naturally feel some hesitation in disputing the opinions of the Paleon¬ 
tologist of the Geological Survey on paloeontological questions, and especially 
on so very elementary a subject as the value of palseontological evidence, but 
I must confess that, supposing even that the above were a correct statement 
of the affinities of the fossils named (and I shall show that it is not) ; supposing 
‘ Rec. G. S. I., Vol. IX, p. 122. 
’ Rec. 6. S. 1., X. p. 76. 
3 Rec. O. S. I., Vol. IX, p. 116. 
“ Pal. Ind., Scr. IX, Vol. I, pp. 225, 233; 
= Rec. G. S. I., Vol. IX, p. 135. 
® Distal portion or symphysis of tlie mandible is meant, not, as might perhaps he supposed, the 
condyle. 
