252. RESEARCH IN CHINA. 
conglomeratic limestone, and slaty black limestone, all resembling in a 
measure, certain phases of the lower Sinian rocks in Shan-tung. Upon 
some of the limestone pebbles occur trilobite spines and certain poorly 
preserved, yet recognizable, shells; better specimens were found within 
the rock. ‘Trilobites are comparatively rare, the most abundant fossils 
being certain small ostracods, of which no less than six species have 
been found. The fossils are principally of the Middle Cambrian, yet in 
most respects they are unlike those of equivalent age in Shan-tung and 
Shan-si. The common forms are a brachiopod, Obolus shansiensis, found 
also in central Shan-si; and another, Dicellomus parvus, which occurs in the 
upper green shale of the Kiu-lung formation near Yen-chuang, Shan- 
tung. Obolella asiatica occurs in the Man-t’o, Lower Cambrian, formation 
in Shan-tung. 
The entire list of species from near Chén-p’ing-hién is as follows: 
Dicellomus parvus Walcott Bradorva bergeront Walcott 
Obolella astatica Walcott Bradoria enyo Walcott 
Obolus shansiensis Walcott Bradoria erts Walcott 
Orthotheca doris Walcott Bradoria fragilis Walcott 
Microdiscus orventalis Walcott Bradorta sterope Walcott 
Bradoria woodi Walcott 
The exact position of the fossil-bearing strata is not known, but 
there can be little doubt that they occur in the lower part, though probably 
not at the base of the K1-sin-ling limestone. 
Northward from Ch6n-p’ing-hién the discrimination of formations 
becomes increasingly difficult, not only on account of the complex folding, 
which obscures structural relations, but particularly because of regional 
metamorphism which, in the basin of the Han, has converted the more 
susceptible sediments into schists and has greatly altered even the massive 
limestones. These rocks are described separately in a following section 
of this report. 
The age of the highest transition beds is fixed as Ordovician by the 
fossils found at Sti-kia-pa, and the Ch6én-p’ing fossils show that at least 
Middle Cambrian is included; Lower Cambrian strata probably occur at 
the base as is indicated by Obolella asiatica. 
The upper limit of the Ki-sin-ling limestone is not well determined by 
our observations. There is conformity of bedding between it and the over- 
lying Sin-t’an formation, and about 200 feet of transition strata carrying 
Middle Ordovician fossils intervene. They may ultimately be separated 
as a distinct formation, but are here considered as continuous with, but 
above the Ki-sin-ling in this region. 
