54 
Sedimentary Formations 
of imperfect character; resemblances to Zamia distans and to Lj/co- 
pbdites Williamsoni; a probable Palissya and Bay era dichotomy 
—the whole very near if not identical with those of the 
Whitby beds. These come from Tin-Kiako, South Shen-shi. On 
the other hand M. Paul Fischer describes M. David’s Marine 
specimens from Lean-Chan as consisting : — Firstly, of Crinoidal 
remains Polyps and Bryozoa and Brachipods, as Or this, Ptylo- 
dictya , Discopora, Hcteropora. These ho considers Wen lock. 
Secondly, there is also a reddish or whitish sandstone with 
beautiful fossils such as Productus; Spirifer; JEuomphalus ; and 
Orihoceras — the rock resembling that of Kildare in Ireland, and 
Avesnes in France. The coral Michelinia and some others were 
undetermined. “ It appears strange,” says M. Fischer, “ that 
Upper Silurian and Carboniferous beds should occur together in 
the same locality.” 
M. Bayan also describes elsewhere in China, in Yaug-Tsee- 
Kiang, some drifted fossils of true Carboniferous species. 
Whether the plant-remains do or do not belong to the same beds 
with the Carboniferous Marine fossils as M. David says, or are 
altogether younger, at any rate the Carboniferous fossils are 
Palaeozoic, and further researches may demonstrate a more inti¬ 
mate relationship than now appears with the stratification and 
palaeontology of New South Wales. But if there are indica¬ 
tions of Mesozoic formations in some parts of China (as shown 
by Dr. Newberry), yet all observers confirm the fact that the 
enormously developed Coal Measures are not Mesozoic but 
Palaeozoic Carboniferous. Mr. Pumpelly’s view is that all the 
older Coal over China is Triassic resting on no other Sedimentary 
rocks, than Devonian. Those fossils of the latter epoch to which he 
refers I have arranged in the table below, marking those which are 
known to ine to occur also in New South Wales and Tasmania. 
There is an interesting passage in " Siluria” (4th Edn., 1S67, 
p. IS) which may be properly cited. Sir K. Murchison says 
therein, — “ It is also certain that the mountain-chains of China 
are composed to a great extent of these older rocks ; for M. C. 
Skatschkof, Director of the Russian Observatory at Pekin, when 
preparing an account of the rich Coal-fields (partially described 
by his countryman Kovanko) near that city, recognized, in the 
Jerinyn-street Museum, certain Silurian Graptolites and Ortho- 
ceratitcs, Devonian Spirifers, and Carboniferous Producti, as all 
being forms which he had seen in the rocks around the Chinese 
metropolis.” He then mentions the fossils given to him by Mr. 
W. Lockhart ( see u Address in It. Gcogr. S. *7.,” 1S58, p. 300) “ some 
from the province of Szechuan and others from Kwangsi,” and 
those brought by Monsr. Itier, and described by Do Koninck as 
Devonian. These are enumerated in the table. But there are 
others of which at present I cannot refer to a description, nor 
have I now Richthofen’s last work at hand. 
