On Flint Implements from Abbeville and Amiens. By Dr. DAUBENY, F.R.S. Dr. Daubeny exhibited some flint implements obtained from the post-pliocene deposits near Abbeville and Amiens, with a view of eliciting the opinion of the Section with respect to their antiquity, and the possibility of their being formed by other than human agency.

On the last Eruption of Vesuvius. By Dr. DAUBENY, F.R.S.

The author confined himself to those phenomena which appeared to present some novelty, and to have a bearing upon the general theory of volcanic action. Vesuvius appears during the last few years to be entering a new phase of action. Its eruptions are more frequent, but less violent, than they were formerly; they proceed from a lower level than they did at an earlier period; and they give vent to certain volatile and gaseous principles, such as the vapour of naphtha and light carburetted hydrogen, or marsh-gas, never before detected. The last eruption has likewise caused an elevation of the coast to the height of 3 feet 7 inches above the level of the sea, which has not been observed to take place on any former occasion. In speculating on the causes which have produced these changes in the nature of the operations of Vesuvius, the author first considered the theory which recognizes a second class of volcanos distinct from those ordinarily known as such, and designated by the name of mud-volcanos. As these latter are characterized by the emission of carburetted hydrogen and naphtha, as well as of semifluid mud, it might be suggested by those who regard them as partaking of the nature of volcanos, that Vesuvius from emitting these same products was now passing into the condition of a mud-volcano. But the author finds reason for denying that the so-called mudvolcanos, of which Macalube in Sicily and Taman in the Sea of Azof are types, have anything in common with genuine ones, such as Vesuvius; and he therefore contends that the above products are generated simply by the action of volcanic heat upon contiguous beds of Apennine limestone containing bituminous matters imbedded. Hence would arise the enormous evolution of carbonic acid observed, and the carburetted hydrogen as well as vapour of naphtha which accompany it, and which may be regarded as the secondary and incidental products of volcanic action, whilst the muriatic and sulphurous acids are the primary and essential ones. The author concluded by recommending to the explorers of volcanic phenomena an accurate examination of the gases evolved, as the best clue to an explanation of the true nature and cause of volcanic action. The latest researches of Deville and others on volcanic emanations present nothing irreconcileable with that chemical theory which the author has so long espoused; but all he asks of geologists is diligently to record the facts, chemical as well as physical, which volcanos present, instead of contenting themselves with simply referring the eruptions to certain great cosmical changes which they imagine to have taken place.

On the Wokey Hole Hyana-den. By W. BOYD DAWKINS, F.G.S. The author described the peculiar features of the den-its accidental discovery, it being filled up to the roof with débris, stones, and organic remains-and showed the evidence of human occupation. In three areas in the cave he found ashes of bone-either of Rhinoceros or Elephas-associated with flint and chert implements of the same type as those of Amiens and Abbeville, and as those of Suffolk. They were, however, of ruder workmanship, and possibly are of an earlier date. They were found underlying lines of peroxide of manganese and of comminuted bone, and overlying, in one of the three areas, remains of the Hyæna, which mark the old floors of the cave. From this he inferred that " Man, in one of the earlier, if not the earliest, stages of his being, dwelt in this cave, as some of the most degraded of our race do at present; that he manufactured his implements and his weapons out of flint, brought from the chalk downs of Wilts, and the least fragile chert of the greensand of the Blackdown Hills, and arrow-heads out of the more easily fashioned bone. Fire-using, indeed, and acquainted with the use of the bow, he was far worse armed, with his puny weapons of flint and bone, than his contemporaries with their sharp claws and strong teeth. The very fact that he held

his ground against them shows that cunning and craft more than compensated for the deficiency of his armament. Secondly, that as he was preceded in his occupation, so was he succeeded by the Hyæna.' He then gave a brief summary of the organic remains found, comprising upwards of 1000 bones, 1016 teeth, and 15 jaws, belonging to

Rhinoceros hemitachus may perhaps refer the date of the cave back to the earlier part of the rewer Pliocene. At all events this is the second instance known of this associate of Elephas antiquus being found together with traces of man.

On Specimens of Flint Instruments from North Devon.
By the Rev. J. DINGLE.

On Flint Instruments from Hoxne. By Mr. DOUGHTY.

On the Geology of Burren, Co. Clare. By F. J. Foor, M.A., G.S.I. This district is composed of the beds of the upper portion of the Carboniferous Limestone, capped on the S. W. by the basal shales of the Coal-measures. Contrary to what is usually the case, the limestone rises into hills upwards of 1000 feet above the sea, and the sides of these are a step-like succession of steep cliffs or bluffs, with broad, flat terraces of bare rock at their feet; these lines of cliff are accurately laid down on the map, and are often traceable for many miles. Excepting in the valleys, where there are accumulations of drift (a mixture of limestone-gravel and the débris of granite), the district is almost entirely uncovered by soil, and the singular form of the hills, together with their barrenness, imparts a most peculiar aspect to this part of Ireland. The strata are nearly horizontal, but have a general dip to the S. of about 1° 30'. This dip prevents the lines on the map being actual contours. The limestone varies in colour from pale to dark grey, and in texture is either compact or crystalline. It contains locally, Corals, Productæ, Crinoids, Nautili, Spirifeiæ, &c. In many places it is highly magnesian, and there are some good Dolomites, as well as bands of Chert. It is traversed by several sets of joints, which cut up the rock into numerous prisms of various sizes and forms; and the extensive flat surfaces have somewhat the appearance of that of a glacier; an accurate plan of a portion of one of these surfaces was also exhibited. This remarkable tract of country has altogether an area of about 250 square miles.

On some Models of Foraminifera. By Dr. FRITSCH.

On the Skiddaw Slate Series. By Professor HARKNESS, F.R.S., F.G.S. The Skiddaw slates of Professor Sedgwick form the lowest of the sedimentary rocks of the North of England. They are overlaid by a thick series of greenish-grey rocks, which, for the most part, consist of porphyries and ashes; these latter have been succeeded by the Coniston limestone of Professor Sedgwick, the equivalent of the Bala limestone.

The sequence of the Skiddaw slates is well shown in the hills which lie west of Bassenthwaite and Derwentwater Lakes. In this portion of Cumberland, these slaty strata, with their associated flaggy beds, are seen at Newlands, passing under

the superior greenish-grey rocks. A section from this place northwards to Sunderland, where the Carboniferous deposits of West Cumberland make their appearance, shows two well-marked anticlinals; and in several localities in this section fossils occur. These consist of Graptolites and a branching Bryozoon; of the former, the genera appertain to Graptolites, Diplograpsus, Didymograpsus, Dichograpsus, and Tetragrapsus. A new form of phyllopod Crustacean is also found in several localities in the course of this section. The fossils of the Skiddaw slates are met with only in the flaggy beds; but whenever rocks of this nature occur, they afford fossils.

A section from Matterdale, on the N. side of Ullswater, across the Skiddaw slates to the Carboniferous strata lying N. of Caldbeck-fells, also affords fossils. That section does not, however, exhibit the same arrangement of the strata. The inclinations in this part of the Skiddaw slate of Cumberland are for the most part S.S.E., and no well-developed axis occurs in this section. This portion of the Skiddaw-slate area is intersected in the valley of the Caldew by granite-the Skiddaw Forest granite of Professor Sedgwick. The results of the author's observations on this granite of the valley of the Caldew induce him to infer that it is an extension W.S.W. of the syenite forming the northern half on Carrock-fell.

Three small areas of Skiddaw slate are found on the eastern margin of the Lake district. One of these is on the S.E. side of Ullswater, and is intersected by a stream called Eggbeck. The other occurs near Rossgill; and the third at Thornshipgill, a short distance west of Shap. In the two latter slate-pencil quarries were formerly worked. In these three areas the author has also met with fossils similar to some of those which have been obtained in the area west of Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite Lakes.

Another area occupied by Skiddaw slate is Blackcomb, in the S. W. of Cumberland. In this hill the inclinations are N.N.W.; and along the Whicham valley, on the south flank of Blackcomb, a great fault, previously alluded to by Professor Sedgwick, occurs. The Skiddaw slates of Blackcomb also yield fossils.

With reference to the position of the Skiddaw slates, the author is induced to infer that they appertain to the Lower Llandeilo; and this conclusion is still further corroborated by Mr. Salter, who, from an examination of the fossils, is led to infer the Lower Llandeilo age of the Skiddaw slate series.

Notice of an Ancient Sea-bed and Beach near Fort William, Inverness-shire. By J. GWYN JEFFREYS, F.R.S., F.G.S.

After making some remarks on the subject of raised beaches and their number in this country, as well as with respect to the Arctic nature of the shells which had been found in the Clyde beds, as well as in Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Norfolk, and other counties, Mr. Jeffreys described some deposits to which his attention had been drawn by Captain Bedford, R.N., and which consisted of an ancient sea-bed and beach lying in juxtaposition to each other. The bed is lowermost, and contains species which usually inhabit a moderate depth of water: the beach appears to have been formed after the bed was upheaved, because it contains littoral species and shells which must have been thrown up by the tide. The organic remains found in the bed and beach represent fifty-nine species, including forty-eight of Mollusca, The analogy between these deposits on the one hand, and the Coralline and Red Crag on the other, was pointed out; but their palæontological contents being of a different kind, the Inverness-shire and Crag deposits were in all probability not contemporaneous. The now-described deposits underlie several other strata, which may belong to the Boulder-clay formation; but this last is a doubtful point. Nearly all the species of Mollusca met with on the present occasion live in the adjacent seas; but a few of them (e. g. Pecten Islandicus, Columbella Holbölli, Littorina squalida, Mangelia pyramidalis, Margarita costulata, Natica clausa, and Trophon Gunneri) now exist only in more northern latitudes. Mr. Jeffreys, however, regards this assemblage of shells as Scandinavian, and not as Arctic. A Table of species was appended to the paper, showing the proportion which inhabits the Arctic, Scandinavian, and Scotch seas, as well as of those which occur in a fossil state in the Crag, Clyde beds, and Kelsey Hill (or Yorkshire) deposits.

MOLLUSCA.

Fragments of plates only. Plates only.

Occurs living as far south as Bergen, according to Sars. Dredged on the north-east coast of Ireland, as well as in the Moray Firth, but probably pleistocene.

Finmark, according to Sars.

The variety merges into the typical
form by insensible gradations.

The variety is L. saxatilis of John-
ston, and inhabits high rocks above
ordinary high-water mark.

The most southern locality where it
occurs in a living state is Bohuslan,
in Sweden.

A specimen, two-thirds grown, found by Mr. Jamieson.