192 Dr. T. Thomson on the Geology and Climate of Nice. 



more than any other work, and that as many Nos. and vols, have been 

 lost in consequence of their being lent out, in future the work should not 

 be taken from the Library, except by special permission, but should be 

 consulted in the Library room. The same recommendation was advised 

 should be extended to Brewster's Encyclopedia. 



The report was unanimously adopted. 



Mr. Robert Graham presented, from his Grace the Duke of Northum- 

 berland, a copy of Results of Astronomical Observations by Sir John 

 Herschel at the Cape of Good Hope, made during 1834 — 38. The Secre- 

 tary was requested to return a letter of thanks to his Grace. 



XXX. — Notice of the Geology and Climate of Nice. By Dr. Thomas 



Thomson. 



The President, Dr. Thomas Thomson, read a paper on the Geology and 

 Climate of Nice, where he resided during last winter. Nice was described 

 as being surrounded on all sides except the south, where the sea serves 

 as a boundary, by mountains. Of these there are three ranges. The 

 range nearest Nice is the lowest, and the mountains composing it are 

 covered to the summit with olive trees. The mountains of the second 

 range are a good deal higher than those of the first, and are also covered 

 with wood to the top. The trees at lower levels are olives, but the sum- 

 mits are covered with a beautiful pine, which Dr. Thomson considered to 

 be the Pinus Maritima. The cones of this tree are much larger than 

 those of our pine, and are highly combustible. The third range of moun- 

 tains constitute the Alps, which are at a great distance, and are constantly 

 covered with snow. The mountains of the inner circle are separated from 

 each other by valleys, which run towards the sea, and becoming broader 

 as they descend. It is in one of these valleys that the city of Nice is 

 situated. The most abundant tree in the neighbourhood of the town is 

 the olive, which indeed may be said to cover the country. It is often 

 small, and its dull green is unpleasing to the eye ; but when allowed to 

 grow to its full size it becomes a magnificent tree. One which Dr. Thomson 

 measured was 40| feet in circumference at its base, just above the surface 

 of the ground ; at 4 J feet high its circumference was 20 J feet. An olive 

 must be twenty years old before it comes into full bearing. The range 

 of mountains nearest Nice is composed of limestone, which is regularly 

 stratified ; the limestone strata are separated by a yellow ochry looking 

 substance, varying from one inch to several feet in thickness. From the 

 fossils contained in this limestone, there can be no doubt that these moun- 

 tains belong to the oolite formation. The fossils are similar to those 

 which are so abundant in the neighbourhood of Bristol, intermixed with 

 the oolite fossils and others belonging to the green sand and the chalk ; 

 from whence it was concluded, that beds of green sand and chalk must 

 still exist or have existed there. The sea-coast from Nice to Genoa is 

 mountainous, and the mountains are composed of limestone. It was 



