Page:Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London, vol. 27.djvu/228

114 nites. It appeared that there were large tracts in which the rocks seemed to be almost destitute of fossils, which rendered their classification extremely difficult; and great credit was due to the author for his exertions in a country where unfortunately so little interest is taken in geology. He mentioned that some of these unfossiliferous rocks had been classified as Silurian by some French geologists; but for this there was not the slightest evidence. It appeared far more probable that they were of Jurassic age. Some red beds, which had been called Triassic, were also in all probability Tertiary.

Mr., who had examined several collections in Spain and Portugal, stated that he had been much struck with the absence of newer Tertiary fossils, the latest being of Miocene age. These latter presented a tropical aspect, and differed from the mollusca now inhabiting the neighbouring seas.

Mr. was not satisfied with the determination of the Ammonites, which appeared to him to be Cretaceous rather than Jurassic forms.

Mr. observed that the French geologists had determined the existence in Spain of the whole Jurassic series, from the Middle Lias to the Portlandian beds; and, judging from the photographs, he should consider the Ammonites to be Middle Jurassic.

Mr. cited the remains of Rhinoceros etruscus, procured by the late Dr. Falconer at Malaga, as affording evidence of the presence of beds of Pliocene age in that district.

Prof. mentioned that corals of the genus Flabellum, such as were found in the Tejares clays, had been obtained in recent deep-sea dredgings in the Atlantic, and also occurred among specimens brought from Japan.