218 Geological Society. 



trees, similar to that at Darlaston, lately described (supra, p. 215). 

 The transverse plates which compose the interior of some of these 

 borders, he considers as agreeing with the laminae of the pith ; and 

 the rings on the external surface of others as produced by the same 

 cause. He described specimens in which the so-called Sternbergia 

 formed the centre or pith of fossil stems. 



4. " On a Fossil Crustacean from New Holland." By Prof. Tho- 

 mas Bell. 



This, the only fossil crustacean as yet found in Australia, was pro- 

 cured by Lieutenant Emery, and forwarded by Mr. W. S. Macleay, 

 who considered it as probably a Thalassina. Prof. Bell regards it as 

 a new Thalassina, nearly allied to the only known living species of 

 that genus, and names it T. antiqua. 



March 6. — A paper was read, entitled, " Contributions to the Geo- 

 logy of North Wales." By Mr. Daniel Sharpe. 



The observations contained in this memoir were made during a 

 tour through a large part of North Wales, with the object of endea- 

 vouring to ascertain what beds lie below the Silurian rocks which 

 have been described by Mr. Murchison, and whether any organic 

 remains are to be found in them. Mr. Sharpe enters into full par- 

 ticulars on the geology of many localities, commencing at Llangollen, 

 in the district examined by Mr. Bowman, and working gradually 

 westward. The details do not admit of a brief abstract. In com- 

 paring the Silurian formations of North Wales with those of Shrop- 

 shire, &c., Mr. Sharpe calls attention to the prevalence of slaty 

 cleavage in the former, to the greater thickness of the Welsh forma- 

 tions, and to the scarcity of organic remains in North Wales in beds 

 which elsewhere are crowded with fossils. He concludes by some 

 observations on slaty cleavage. 



A Note, by the Curator, on the fossil species of Criseis, discovered 

 by Prof. Sedgwick and Prof. Ansted, was also read at this meeting. 



March 20. — The following papers were read : — 



1. " Report on the Collection of Fossils from Malta and Gozo, 

 presented by Lieut. Spratt, R.N." By the Curator. 



From an examination and comparison of the fossils, it would ap- 

 pear that the Maltese Islands are formed of tertiary strata of the 

 Miocene period, from which there are between eighty and ninety 

 species of organic remains in the Society's collection. 



2. " On the Origin of the Gypseous and Saliferous Marls of the 

 New Red Sandstone." By the Rev. David Williams. 



The author gives an account of a section through the west end of 

 Worle Hill, near Weston-super-Mare, which he considers throws 

 important light on the origin of the marls in question. He classes 

 them among formations of volcanic origin. 



3. Extract of a Letter addressed to the Rev. Dr. Buckland, by Mr. 

 W. C. Trevelyan, " On some remarkable Fractured Pebbles from 

 Auchmithie, near Arbroath." 



These pebbles are found in the old red conglomerate, and consist 

 of granite, porphyry, gneiss, jasper and reddish quartz. They are 

 fractured and contorted in a remarkable manner, and present appear- 

 ances of softenings, and of adhesions subsequent to the fracturing. 



