460 Proceedings of Philosophical Societies. [June, 



and zoophytes ; the shells being in most cases squeezed toge- 

 ther, but in other respects in perfect preservation. 



The puddin^stone consists of clay and sand, cementing 

 rounded gravel and the remains of shells of existing species, 

 almost all broken down, like those on the sea shore after stormy 

 veather, and mixed with bones of quadrupeds and fish. 



Of breccia, several varieties are found in the vicinity of Nice. 

 Tlie most ancient somewhat resembles the nagelflue of Switzer- 

 land, and is found above the Alpine and Subalpine limestones. 

 The most recent breccia has a cement of the Mediterranean 

 limestone, or of reddish clay, and sometimes contains shells and 

 fragments of the bones of various quadrupeds and of birds. A 

 third variety of breccia contains only the remains of land shells; 

 and a fourth, resembhng that of Gibraltar, fills a cavern in the 

 compact hmestone, and contains the remains of bones, teeth, 

 and horns, much broken down, and so much decomposed as to 

 retain their form and cohesion only by means of the cement 

 which unites them. 



A very extensive deposition of whitish sea sand is found on 

 the south side of the Bay of Villa-Franca beneath a reddish 

 soil of several metres in thickness ; and the author enumerates 

 nearly 200 species of shells collected at this place. A deposi- 

 tion still more recent consists of argillo-calcareous earth of various 

 shades of red, grey, and white ; and immediately above it is the 

 vegetable soil. 



The author infers from the facts now stated, that the sea has 

 been the sole agent in producing the various appearances and 

 combinations of mineral substances, which he has described ; 

 and he concludes by stating his opinions as to the nature and 

 progress of the marine agency which has produced or modified 

 the deposition of the several rocks, and of the fossil remains 

 which they contain. 



March 15. — A notice on the Rocks of Attica, by Joseph 

 Woods, Esq. MGS. was concluded. 



Attica is a promontory bounded on tw o sides by the sea, and 

 divided from the remainder of the Grecian continent by a range 

 of mountains, the highest point of which, the ancient Parnes, 

 may be about 4000 feet above the sea. 



Within the triangular space thus defined are also numerous 

 mountains very irregularly disposed. The basis of all the coun- 

 try appears to consist of primary rocks, principally of mica slate, 

 with granular limestone of several varieties ; these constitute 

 the greater part of many of the mountains, and appear in the 

 plains wherever the rock is exposed to a sufficient depth. 



Above the primary rocks is a conglomerate, consisting of j)ri- 

 mary substances, imbedded in calcareous paste which contains 

 magnesia. 



A series of calcareous rocks, including a compact limestone 



