at Edinburgh ^ in July and August 1850. 38^5 



Conclusion of the Proceedings of the British Association 

 for 1850. 



Excursions. 



During the meeting of the British Association several excursions 

 to interesting localities were made, chiefly with a view of inspecting 

 the geognostical phenomena near to Edinburgh. The parties were 

 much gratified and instructed by what they saw. 



Lectures. 



Two lectures were given, one by Dr Bennett on the evening of 

 Thursday, 1st of August, *' On the passage of the Blood through 

 the minute vessels of animals in connection with Nutrition :" the 

 other by Dr Mantell " On the Extinct Birds of New Zealand." 

 Both lectures were listened to with deep attention by very numerous 

 audiences. Mr Nasmith also exhibited very beautiful drawings and 

 relief representations of the surface of the moon, which he described 

 in a very interesting manner. 



Promenades and Conversations. 



Two evenings, viz., the 2d August and Tuesday evening the 6th 

 of August, brought together brilliant and very numerous assemblages 

 of the members of the Association in the Music Hall and great As- 

 sembly Room. 



Notes on the Geology of the Southern Extremity of Cantyre^ 

 Argyllshire. By James Nicol, F.R.S.E., F.G.S., Professor 

 of Geology, Queen's College. Cork. Communicated by the 

 Author.* 



The peninsula of Cantyre is very remarkable both for its geogra- 

 phical and geological peculiarities. Its general direction from north 

 to south differs greatly from the usual range of the Scottish moun- 

 tains from NE. to SW. At Tarbet, it is connected with the main- 

 land by an isthmus only a mile in breadth, and were the land 

 depressed a few feet, it would be changed into several islands. The 

 great formation of mica slate, which runs nearly SW. along the 

 border of the Grampians, through the whole of Scotland, in this 

 place seems to turn to the south, whilst the clay slate resting upon 

 it disappears on the east side of the granite of Goatfell in Arran. 

 The geology of this district has, however, been scarcely noticed, ex- 



* liead to the British Association in 18G0. 

 VOL. XLIX. NO. XCVIII.— OCTOBER 1860. 2 B 



