308 LITERARV NOTICES. 



relative augmentation of the affinity of hydrogen for oxygen, an hypothesis 

 indeed established by other and independent facts. 



That Dr. Henry's theory of gaseous interference is the true one, he infers 

 from the general fact of no gases exercising any such influence but those which 

 have an affinity for oxygen ; and that it is strictly true, at least in the case of 

 carbonic oxide, there can be no question, seeing that some of the oxygen is 

 actually employed in the production of carbonic acid. 



Papers were also read by Mr. Horapath on arsenical poisons, by Professor 

 Johnston on chemical constants, by Dr. Hare on Berzelius's nomenclature, 

 by Dr. Dalton on atomic symbols, and by others whom we cannot further 

 mention for want of room. 



In section C the business commenced with a memoir by Mr. Charlesworth 

 on the vertebrated animals found in the Norfolk and Suffolk crag ; and what 

 the writer seemed most desirous of proving was that the tertiary formations 

 in the eastern counties, the mammifera and mollusca, are found in association. 

 The northern part of the crag, that is, from Cromer to Aldborough, differs 

 materially in its fossil remains form the southern part in Essex and Suffolk, 

 particularly in the fish and testacea ; but in both parts the genera of mammi- 

 ferous animals could be identified with those still existing or others exclusively 

 belonging to the diluvial deposits. Bones of birds were also discovered, chiefly 

 those of the natatorial tribes. The variety of the testacea in different parts of 

 the crag led to the supposition that its formation had taken pi ace" at different 

 eras, and the absence of reptiles seemed to prove that the climate at the time 

 of the formation was similar to that of the Polar regions. An animated 

 conversation followed between the Writer, Messrs. Sedgewick, Greenough, 

 Conybeare, and Murchison, on the period of the formation of the crag. Mr. 

 Sedgewick considered the crag to be of one epoch, and dissented from Mr. 

 Charlesworth about the extinction of the mastodon before the formation of the 

 diluvial beds, as there were not facts sufficient to justify the conclusion. Mr. 

 Bowman read a paper on the bone-caves' in the mountain-limestone at Caefn 

 in Denbighshire, after which two models by Mr. Ibbotson, of the country 

 about Neufchatel and of the undercliff in the Isle of Wight, which were well 

 entitled to the praise bestowed on them by the Committee. The great feature 

 of the second day's meeting in this section was a memoir by Messrs. Sedgewick 

 and Murchison on the classification of the Devonshire slate-rocks, and on the 

 position of the culm deposits in the middle of the county. It appears that up 

 to the present period the older slate-rocks have been represented by one colour 

 only, and so likewise the different limestones by one only. The object of this 

 paper was to ascertain the position and nature of the several deposits so that 

 they might be separately marked on the maps. The ascending order of the 

 series is said to be as follows : 1. A system of slaty clays with casts of organic 

 remains, passing into glossy clay-slates and a reddish flagstone or sandstone. 

 2. A series of rocks characterized by masses of thick-bedded sandstone and 

 red micaceous flagstone, with very few organic remains. 3. The calcareous 

 slates of Ilfracombe abounding with organic remains, and containing many 

 distinct ribs of limestone. 4. A formation of green and blueish slates passing 

 superiorly into a great bed of variously-coloured sandstones and micaceous flag- 

 stones. 5. The Silurian rocks, containing many subordinate beds of lime- 

 stone, very rich in characteristic organic remains. 6. The carbonaceous 

 system of Devonshire, in a direction east and west across the county, in its 

 southern boundary so close to Dartmoor that its lower beds have been tilted 

 up and altered by the granite. It occupies a trough, the northern border of 

 which rests partly upon the Silurian system and partly upon older rocks. 

 Its southern border also rests on the slate rocks of Launcestort. It every where 

 exhibits a succession of violent contortions. In eome places it is overlaid^by 

 patches of green sand, and west of Bideford by conglomerates of the new red 

 sandstone. 



We regret that our report of this learned meeting must here close for the 

 present ; but we shall hope to return to the subject next month. 



