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APPENDIX.

ORGANIC REMAINS OF THE TERTIARY AND POST-TERTIARY FORMATIONS OF CENTRAL FRANCE.

VEGETABLE remains abound in the lower arenaceous beds of the lacustrine formations, as well as in the tuffs of the volcanic period, where they occasionally form beds of workable lignite. But in neither case as yet have they been scientifically determined. They chiefly consist of the leaves, fruits, and occasionally stems of dicotyledonous trees, or of reeds and other plants, the usual growth of marshy spots. The stems of charæ are very abundant as well as their seed-vessels. I am able to say little more of the fossil mollusks found in the same formations. The tertiary sandstones rarely contain shells, but some species of Cyrena have been found in them.* The associated or overlying limestones and marls abound in shells belonging to the genera Helix, Lymneus, Paludina, Bulimus, Cerithium, Cyrena, Unio, and Cypris. Some of the species mentioned by M. Bouillet† appear to be referable to an earlier period than that to which, on the best Palæontological authorities, we have considered the entire freshwater formation of Central France to belong, viz., the Lower Miocene. Sir Charles Lyell has recently touched upon this question in a supplement to his Manual. And the matter remains still open to further investigation.

Two marine shells are said to have been discovered in a sandy stratum near Issoire, by MM. Bravard and Pomel, belonging to the genera Natica and Pleurotoma, and akin to some occurring in the Faluns of the lower basin of the Loire. Such a circumstance would seem to indicate either a reflux at some period of the waters of that river, or that the Miocene sea had actually ascended the

Pomel, Bulletin, 2de Ser., vol. i.

p. 579.

† Bull., vol. vi. p. 99 and 255.
1857, p. 10.

Allier. But it is not impossible to account for one or two such instances by supposing a few small mollusks living in the lower brackish waters to have been brought up the valley by birds prey ing on shell-fish. The bones of species belonging to the gull tribe

are not unfrequent in the Auvergne fresh-water beds.

The Paleontologists who have most closely studied the Fauna of Central France are MM. Pomel and Aymard. As the lists given by these two authorities are not identical, and their opinions vary as to the divisions into which the several series should be classed, I think my readers will be more satisfied if, instead of myself attempting any comparative estimate of the two, I give both catalogues, with an abbreviation of the remarks by which their authors accompany them.

The following is M. Pomel's catalogue of the Fauna of the (Miocene) Lacustrine Strata of Central France :*.

I. FAUNA OF THE LACUSTRINE STRATA OF CENTRAL FRANCE. The species marked * have been found only in the basin of the Haute Loire; those marked † have been found both there and in the basin of the Allier likewise. Those without any distinguishing mark have been found in the latter (the Limagne) basin only.

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*Pomel, Catalogue des Vertèbres Fossiles du Bassin Supérieur de la Loire, &c.

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M. Pomel leaves the numerous remains of birds found in this district undetermined, mentioning only the genera Phænicopterus, Anas, Ardea, and one resembling Numenius, several of the orders Rapaces, and Gallinacei, one of the last being as large as a peacock.

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