Conglomerates, and Marls of Vevonsliire. 
37 
We are now in a position to look once more at the question of 
the Age of the formation. That it is Triassic there can be no 
doubt, for to this extent the question was finally disposed of by 
the granite fragments found on Haldon, and described and dis- 
cussed in my first paper.* The facts adduced in my second paper, f 
taken with those now brought forward, go to show that the Red 
rocks of Devonshire belong to one of the three Triassic divisions. 
It is true that marl is the exception south of the Exe, and that 
Conglomerates are comparatively not prevalent north of it ; but it is 
also true that marl occurs even near the base of the formation, as, 
for example, in the north cliff of Goodrington Sands, Torbay ; and 
that, to say nothing of the " Pebble Bed," Conglomerate occupies 
a large part of the section between the Otter and the Sid. Again, 
it is true that, taken as a whole, the dip of the beds beyond the 
Exe differs considerably, both in amount and in direction, from 
that of the strata south of that river; but it is equally true 
that in both respects the change is so gradual that a line of 
separation cannot be found or laid down. It must be admitted, 
however, that the southern beds have, on the whole, the features 
of the Bunter or Lower Trias, rather than of any other part of the 
system ; whilst those on the north shew a decided likeness to the ' 
Keuper or Upper Trias. Indeed, were it not that it would be very 
heterodox to hint that Britain anywhere contains an equivalent of 
the Muschelkalk, or Middle Trias, it would be the easiest way out 
of the difficulty to suppose that all three divisions are represented 
in our red cliffs ; and it may be confessed that the vast dimensions 
of our deposits would give some support to such a guess could it 
be shown to be even but slightly probable. But declining, as we 
must, to listen to such a seductive heresy, we are under the 
necessity of supposing that 07ie division alone is represented, or 
that we have the two extremes but not the intermediate division. 
To accept the latter view is to accept the following suppositions : — 
Transactions," 1861-2. f Ibid. 1862-3. 
