India by A. Fleming and W. Purdon, Quart. Journal, vol. XVIII. p. 25; 2 plates. 2nd, Description of some fossils from India discovered by J. Fleming, by Dr. L. de Koninck, Quart. Journ. vol. XIX. with 8 plates on which are figured among others some very curious goniatites. 3rd, Geological notes on part of the N. W. Himalayas, by Capt. GodwinAusten, with notes of fossils by T. Davidson, R. Etheridge and P. Woodward. It is only an abstract of the memoir, without plates. Capt. Godwin-Austen followed the Carboniferous limestone along the foot of the mountains at the north of the valley of Kashmir as far as Ishmalabad.* The carboniferous series is, according to Capt. G. Austen, as follows, from the highest to the lowest. 1st Layers with goniatites more or less analogous to the ceratites of the Musckelhalk. These layers are the highest of the carboniferous formation. 2nd. Below is found a compact limestone poor in fossils; 3rd, argillaceous series; 4th, limestone rich in fossils, Productus, &c. 5th quartzite. As early as 1850, Sir Roderick Murchison had shown me some of the fossils sent by Mr. Fleming, and I had identified the P. Cora, costatus, Flemingi, the Athyris Roysii, Orthis crensistria, &c. Quart. Journ. vol. 7, p. 39. At the same epoch Dr. Falconer and Major Vicary had announced the existence of paleozoic fossils in the mountains which separate British India from Kabul, as remarked by Sir R. Murchison, Quart. Journ. vol. VII. p. 38. In 1852, Mr. A. Fleming published his observations on the Salt Range in several letters addressed to Sir R. Murchison, Quart Journ. vol. IX. p. 189. All the fossils collected by Mr. Fleming, Mr. Purdon, Captain G. Austen and Dr. Verchere belong to the carboniferous formation. Captain Strachey alone has proved the existence of more ancient rocks (in a paleontological point of view.)† He sent to London a series of fossils collected in the mountains, from 17 to 18000 feet above the sea, which separate Thibet from the British provinces of Kumaon and Garhwal. I have identified among these fossils some Asaphus, We *Capt.Gordon-Austen and myself visited the localities referred to in the geological notes, during a tour we made together in the autumn of 1863. thought at one time of writing a memoir in collaboration, but having been sent to the extremes of India, we arranged our notes separately. A. M. V. In the present paper are figured a few Cystoids which are in all probability Silurian, see Pl. VIII. fig. 61 and 62. Lychas, Illonus, Cheirurus, Orthoceras, &c. all characteristic of the Lower Silurian. In the upper part of the beds Captain Strachey found goniatites, ceratites and even ammonites, which remind one much of the Trias. So far, therefore, two of the four great divisions of the Palazoic formation have become well known in the Himalaya, viz. the Silurian and the Carboniferous. The Devonian will be found also, for we have received from a Missionary travelling in China three species of Brachiopoda characteristic of the Upper Devonian rocks, among others the Terebratula Cuboides. These fossils have been presented this year to the Académie de Sciences de Paris. Mr. Davidson has also figured and described, as received from China, brachiopoda which also are characteristic of the Devonian, among other the Spirifer, Verneuil. The discovery and determination of the Devonian in the Himalaya requires attention and research. I have further to remark how great is the analogy between India and Russia; I have found in this last country most of the species which Mr. Verchere has found in the Himalaya. Russia, the Oural and the Altai, are connecting links between England and India. In terminating this note, we wish to observe that if, according to Mr. Verchere, the coal measures, (which should be superior to the carboniferous limestone), are wanting in India, this want is one more resemblance with Russia, for in all the carboniferous zone which extends from Moscow to Archangel the carboniferous limestone is never covered in by coal measures. There has been a slow upheaving motion of the ground, which has raised the strata above the sea-level, without, however, otherwise disturbing them, at the epoch when in other countries, the coal was being deposited. It is in the south of Russia only (the Douetz), and in a few localities on the western slope of the Oural, that coal measure deposits are to be found. Paris, 21st Nov., 1864. (Signed) ED. DE VERNEUIL. APPENDIX. FOSSILS. SILURIAN. Sphæronites sp. Pl. VIII. fig 5. Perfectly globular; covered with small rounded warts sharply defined. The whole shell, between the warts, is pierced with minute pores. No trace of plates; no mouth nor stalk-scar visible. Found in the rocky plains at the foot of the Masha Brum, Korakoram Chain. Spheronites sp. Pl. VIII. fig 6. Proposed name of a new species: S. Ryallii, Verch. Globular. Large warts well set apart and not very sharply defined. The whole shell is covered with pores. No mouth. A stalk-stem very conspicuous. From the same locality as the preceding. Name proposed in honour of Mr. Ryall, Gt. Trig. Survey, who discovered the shell. Sphæronites sp. Pl. IX. fig. 1. Depressed. No warts or spines; no plates or traces of plates, no stalk-scar. The whole surface pierced by minute pores. Same locality. CARBONIFEROUS. Zeuwan Beds. CEPHALOPODA. Nautilus Flemingianus, De Kon. Journal, Geological Society, Vol. XIX. Part I, No. 73, p. 15. Pl. VIII. fig. 2. A fragment of this shell was found at Zeawan, Kashmir. Nautilus Favranus, Verch., n. sp. A very large globular Nautilus, eleven inches across the mouth. Perfectly smooth and inornate. Siphon large and central, formed by a series of dilatations, giving it a beaded appearance. Rotta Roh in the Punjab. Orthoceras sp. Zowoor and Zeawan in Kashmir. GASTEROPODA. Macrocheilus Avellanoïdes, DeKon. Journal, Geological Society, Vol. XIX. No. 73, p. 10. Pl. III fig. 4. Rotta Roh. Dentalium Herculeum, DeKon. Op. Cit. p. 8. Pl. IV. figs. 10, 11 & 12. Several specimens were found in the Rotta Roh, but none in Kashmir. Trochus sp. Some large specimens of Trochus, four inches across, were found at the Rotta Roh, Punjab. LAMELLIBRANCHIATA. Anomia Lawrenciana, De Kon. Journal, Geological Society, Vol. XIX. p. 6. Pl. IV. figs. 7, 8 & 9. Found in the Rotta Roh, but not in Kashmir. BRACHIOPODA. Terebratula sacculus, Martin. Journal, Geological Society, Vol. XXII. p. 40. Pl. II. fig. 1. Found at Zeawan Zowoor and Barus, Kashmir. Remark. A few other species of true Terebratulæ were found in the Zeawan group of Carboniferous limestone, but I am unable to identify them at present. Spirifer Vercheri, de Verneuil, new sp. Pl. I. figs. 1, 1a. See M. de Vernueil's note. Barus in Kashmir. It has been found in Spiti. Spirifer striatus, Martin. Journal, Geological Society, Vol. XVIII, No. 69, p. 28. Pl. I. figs. 9 and 10. Several fragments were found at Zeawan and Zowoor, and complete specimens in the Rotta Roh. Spirifer Moosakhelensis, David. Op. Cit. p. 28. Pl. II. fig. 2. This shell is extremely abundant at Zeawan, but was always found in fragments. It is also common at the Rotta Roh. After comparing numerous specimens of the last two species, in various states of weathering, I must express my impression that the S. Moosakhelensis is only a variety of the S. striatus, in which the concentric lamina (which do exist in the striatus) have become exaggerated. All stages of transition are to be observed in a moderately large series. Spirifer Rajah, Strachey [Syn. S. Keilhavii Buch ?] Fragments found at Zeawan and Barus. Spirifer, spec. nor.? Pl. III figs. 1 & 1a. Hinge-line straight and much longer than the greatest width of the shell. Umbones prominent above the hinge-line; hinge-area not seen. Six or seven irregular ribs radiate from the umbo to the margin in a wavy manner. Fine ornamental raised lines (coarser on the larger than on the smaller valve) radiate likewise in a wavy manner. Shell flat. It varies a great deal in shape and size, but is always very flat, so much so that it has somewhat the appearance of such shell as the Strophomena grandis of the Silurian. It may possibly be, like the precedent, a variety of the S. Keilhavii, Found at Zeawan in Kashmir and at the Rotta Roh. Spiriferina octoplicata (Sow.), var. Transversa (Verch.) Specimens like a, are not common at all; but fragments of the shell such as are represented at b, are innumerable in the brown shale of Zeawan. Found also in the limestone of Kafir Kote in the Rotta Roh, but it is there rare. This shell seems to vary wonderfully, from the narrow forms figured by Davidson, (Journal Geological Society, Vol. XVIII. Pl. I. figs. 11 and 14,) to the very transverse variety represented here. Athyris sp. (Ath. subtilita. Hall), Pl. II. figs. 1 and la. This species varies considerably, especially as to size, but is easily recognized by the overlapping of the upper edge of the lines of growth, so that the shell looks as if made up of several layers laid one over the other, like the many capes of a coachman's cloak. Found at Zowoor in Kashmir, in lenticular beds where it appears to be gregarious. Also in the Rotta Roh and Salt Range. Athyris Buddhista, Verch., n. sp. Pl. II. figs. 2, 2a, and 2b. It has flat, expanded sides on each side of the larger valve and sharp fold of the lesser. a point, occasionally pierced by a small a well marked sinus of The beak terminates in foramen but generally |
