e 
Records of the Geological Survey of India. 
April, and is still absent, and it has not been practicable to send any one to take up his work 
this season. On his return in the autumn, Mr. Theobald will resume his researches in 
Burmah. 
Publications. —During the year the Survey has issued of the Memoirs of the Geological 
Survey of India, the following :—“ On the neighbourhood of Lynyan in Sind,” where coal 
was said to occur: “ On the Geology of a part of Glitch,” where also coal was stated to have 
been worked ; both by Mr. W. T. Blanford. There have also been issued a detailed report on 
the Bokaro coal-field in the Hazareebagh district, by Mi-. T. W. Hughes, and a similar one on 
the Ramgurk coal-field by Mr. V. Ball. Also a general sketch report on the trap rocks of 
Western and Central India, by Mr. W. T. Blanford. 
In Sind, the coal at Lynyan, which had been the subject of many reports extending over 
several years, and of considerable expenditure of time and money, proved to be merely a nest 
or patch of lignite, not extending one hundred yards in any direction. Nor did there appear 
any probability of other deposits occurring in the vicinity. ' In Cutch, the only seam of coal 
seen is a little more than one foot in thickness, of which thickness only about eight inches is 
fairly good. It is, therefore, obviously not worth working. Mr. Blanford’s visit being, 
unavoidably at the time, a very cursory one, a careful examination of the whole of Cutch has 
this year been commenced and the results will be of high interest. This coal of Catch is 
geologically of a, middle jurassic age, while the lignitic coal of Sind belongs to the lower terti¬ 
ary epoch. The Bokaro aud Ramgurh coal-fields belong to the ordinary coal-bearing series 
(the Damuda) of Indian rocks. They lie to the south of Hazareebagli, aud are of consider¬ 
able extent, but not rich in coal. And, as I have already stated, must I think be looked upon 
as only useful to meet a local and limited demand, and this, too, only for such rougher work 
as the inferior quality of coal may he adapted for. Mr. Blanford’s report “ On the traps of 
Western and Central India,’ throws light on their history, extent and character, and on then- 
geological epoch. Mr. Blanford thinks it highly probable that the commencement of these 
great over-flowings of lava which extend over such an immense area may have occurred even 
so early as the tune of the middle cretaceous period, and have continued up into tertiary ages. 
These conclusions, however, are based upon evidence, which Mr. Blanford himself admits to be 
far from conclusive. More detailed examinations must be carried out before they be admitted. 
The subject is one of great interest in Indian geology. 
In accordance with a demand from the Kight Hon’ble the Secretary of State lor India, I 
prepared at the commencement of the year a brief summary statement of all that was known 
regarding the coal-fields ol India. Details, as full as the information obtainable admitted of, 
were given “ of the resources aud production of coal.” During the years from 1858 to 1866, 
inclusive, these returns showed an actual increase in the amount of coal raised in India, from 
61.1 lakhs ol maurids to 1031 lakhs. The returns were avowedly only careful approximations, 
as there was no organization for the compilation of such information, hut they are probably 
relatively correct. Arrangements have been made to carry on these statistics of out-turn of 
coal, so far as the information can be obtained. 
A new edition of the Catalogue of Meteorites in the Geological Survey Musuem, has also 
been issued embodying many more recent acquisitions in Europe. In ’ it are recorded 152 
stones, and 95 iron aerolites. These it taken in conjunction with seven others, of which the 
Geological Museum, has no specimen, but which are represented in the Indian Museum, will 
form a total mimber^of two hundred and fifty-lour distinct falls, represented in Calcutta : a 
number which fully justifies the statement made by mo in the Catalogue, that so fin* as the 
number and variety of its specimens are concerned, the series of aerolites in Calcutta-stands 
among the first in the world. 
Of the Palteontologia Tndica, the first half of the detailed figures and descriptions of the 
Cretaceous Gastropoda of South India, has been published. This contained four parts, issued 
m anticipation ot the regular dates for the quarterly publication, and as for the year from 
-' i' 1 ■ ; ^ ” April 1S(>8. This portion contains descriptions of 83 species, under 46 genera, 
with full analyses ot the several families, sub-families, &e., and of their natural history rela¬ 
tions, so as to form a standard guide for the student of this very important group of fossils. 
I have in all cases desired to hear in mind in our publications, the very different circumstances 
under which Indian readers are placed, as compared with similar students in Europe, from 
the absence ol collections for comparison, and books for reference, and it has, therefore, been a 
steadily pursued object to render all our descriptions, catalogues, &e., as complete in them¬ 
selves, aud as detailed in their references, as possible. The preparation of the parts for the 
