326 Geological Society. 



Beneath the last stratum are other beds of conglomerate, which 

 gradually become coarser and harder, and inclose a few rolled masses 

 of gneiss. 



The ichthyolites, though most abundant in the bed of grey clay 

 (No. 3.), are not confined to it, remains of fishes occurring in the 

 subjacent sandstones and conglomerates j and it is only when the 

 sandstones are entirely replaced by the conglomerates that the fish 

 exuviae disappear. This distinction the author assigns to the apparent 

 turbulent state of the water which brought the conglomerates together, 

 and the comparatively tranquil condition of that which deposited the 

 sandy strata. 



With respect to the geological position of this system of sandstones 

 and conglomerates, the author shows that it rests unconformably on 

 the old red sandstone, and that it is overlaid by outliers of lias j he 

 is further of opinion that it belongs to the age of the coal measures, 

 and, probably, of the millstone grit. This conclusion is likewise in ac- 

 cordance with the opinion of M. Agassiz respecting the age of the 

 deposit, deduced from the characters of the ichthyolites. 



The author, in addition to this account of the bed containing the 

 fish, gives a detailed description of the old red sandstone, the schistose 

 formation, and the trap rocks of the district. He gives a detailed ac- 

 count, also, of the faults, and shows by sections, that those between 

 Findon and Gamrie, and near Gamrie church, are older than the 

 lias, because they are overlaid by that formation, without affect- 

 ing it. 



April 29. — A paper was first read, entitled " Remarks to illustrate 

 Geological Specimens from the West Coast of Africa," by Captain 

 Belcher, R.N., F.G.S., &c, an abstract of which is given in No. 40 of 

 the Society's t Proceedings.' 



A paper was next read, entitled " A Description of Specimens col- 

 lected on the Island of Ascension by the Rev. W. P. Hennah j" com- 

 municated by the Rev. Richard Hennah, F.G.S.j of which also an 

 abstract is given in the * Proceedings.' 



A paper was afterwards read, " On a Bed of Gravel containing 

 Marine Shells of recent species, at 'The Willington', in Cheshire j" 

 by Sir Philip Grey Egerton, Bart., M.P., V.P.G.S. 



"The Willington", the residence of Major Tomkinson, is situated 

 at the western base of the " Forest Hills", four miles north of Tar- 

 porley, and about nine miles in a direct line from the nearest point 

 on the shore of the Mersey. The u Forest Hills" belong to the new 

 red sandstone formation, and at this point have an elevation of 120 

 or 130 feet above the Mersey, or from 50 to 60 feet above the adja- 

 cent valley. In the summer of 1834 a bed of gravel was exposed 

 close to their base, to the extent of three or four yards, and to the 

 depth of one j and the author ascertained that it was between seventy 

 and eighty feet above the level of the Mersey. It presented so dif- 

 ferent a character from the usual gravel of Cheshire, that it attracted 

 the attention of the workmen. It was composed principally of fine- 

 grained gravel and pebbles from one to six inches in diameter, inter- 

 mixed with sand and fragments, and sometimes perfect shells of ex- 



