240 Geological Society : — 



were formed, the traces of an intentional operation on the bones of 

 Rhinoceros, Aurochs^ Megaceros, Cervus Somenensis, &c. supply 

 equally the inductive demonstration of the contemporaneity of those 

 species with the human race. M. Lartet points out that the Aurochs, 

 though still existing, was contemporaneous with the Elephas jnimi- 

 genius, and that its remains occur in preglacial deposits, and, in- 

 deed, that a great proportion of our living Mammifers have been 

 contemporaneous with E. primiyenius and R. tichorhinus, the first 

 appearance of which in Western Europe must have been preceded 

 by that of several of our still existing quadrupeds. 



The author accepts M. d'Archiac's determination of the period of 

 the separation of England from the Continent as having been ante- 

 rior to the formation of the ancient alluvium or "loess," but subse- 

 quent to the great rolled gravel-deposits in which the flint hatchets 

 of a primitive people are found. If M. E. de Beaumont's hypothesis 

 of these gravels being due to the last dislocation of the Alps be 

 accepted, the worked flints carried along with the erratic pebbles 

 afford a proof of the existence of man at an epoch when Central 

 Europe had not yet fully received its present geographical features. 



The author also remarks that though there is good evidence of 

 changes of level having occurred since man began to occupy Europe 

 and the British Isles, yet they have not amounted to catastrophes so 

 general as to affect the regular succession of organized beings. 



Lastly, M*. Lartet announced that a flint hatchet and some flint 

 knives had lately been discovered, in company with remains of 

 Elephant, Aurochs, Horse, and a feline animal, in the sands of the 

 Parisian suburb of Grenelle, by M. Gosse, of Geneva. 



May 30, I860.— L. Horner, Esq., President, in the Chair. 



The following communication was read : — 



" On certain Rocks of Miocene and Eocene age in Tuscany, 

 including Serpentine, accompanied by Copper-ore, Lignite, and 

 Alabaster." By W. P. Jervis, Esq., F.G.S. 



Three distinct eruptions of serpentinous igneous rocks have been 

 recognized by the Italian geologists ; two are considered to have 

 occurred in Tertiary times, and one previously in the mesozoic period ; 

 dykes of diorite (also of Tertiary age) are more rare in the same 

 geographical area. From the abundant occurrence of these eruptive 

 rocks, and the extensive development of Miocene strata, unknown 

 in England, arise many specialities of Tuscan geology and mineralogy. 

 1st. The diallagic serpentine has pierced the Upper Cretaceous beds, 

 but does not enclose any fragments of Tertiary rocks. It is non- 

 metalliferous, and is employed in architecture. 2ndly. The eupho- 

 tide or " granitone " is unfit for building-purposes. The con- 

 tact of this with the diallagic serpentine has metamorphosed the 

 latter into the curiously marked " llanocchiaja." At Matarana 

 (Liguria) the crystals of diallage in the euphotide gradually decrease 

 in size towards the junction with the serpentine. 3rdly. Diorite, 

 penetrating the euphotide, and, like it, belonging to the Eocene 

 age. This and the serpentine acting on the" Macigno" has pro- 

 duced the "Gabbro rosso." 4thly. " Gabbro verde," or serpentine, 



