PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCIENTn?IC SOCIETIES OE LO:N^DOTs-. 435 



relation of tlie deposits containing tliem with those of Europe, coming 

 to the conclusion that they were most probably of Cenomanian rather 

 than Neocomian age, and of later date than the Pondicherry series ; 

 but he also remarked that it is impossible to determine their exact 

 contemporaneity, the vertical range of many of the species being so 

 great, and the parallelism of the allied European Cretaceous beds not 

 exact. In conclusion. Dr. Duncan discussed several questions arising 

 out of a comparison of fossils from distant locahties, especially the 

 specific identity of similar specimens occurring in different forma- 

 tions, or in distant regions ; also the variability of certain species, 

 and the idea of " homotaxis." 



2. " On the Eossil contents of the Grenista Cave at Windmill Hill, 

 Gibraltar." By George Busk, Esq., E.E.S., E.G.S., and the late 

 Hugh Ealconer, M.D., F.E.S., E.G.S. Communicated by the Secre- 

 tary of State for "War. — This was a letter addressed by the authors 

 to His Excellency the Governor of Gibraltar, General Sir W. J. 

 Codrington, K.C.B,, &c., and containing the results of their ex- 

 amination of the Genista Cave. Eeferring first to Captain Brome's 

 report for a description of the general features of that cave, the 

 authors stated that the Eock of Gibraltar abounds in both seaboard 

 and inland caverns, the Genista Cave being one of the latter class. 

 It has been traced downwards to a depth of 200 feet ; but the 

 external aperture has not yet been discovered ; it was stated to be 

 full of the remains of quadrupeds and birds, some of the former 

 being now wholly extinct, others extinct in Europe and repelled 

 to distant regions of the African continent (as the Hycena hrunea), 

 while others again live now either on the rock or in the ad- 

 joining Spanish peninsula. A list of the species to which these re- 

 mains were referable was then given, and it was inferred that there 

 had been a connexion by land, either circuitous or direct between 

 Europe and Africa at no very remote period. The authors observed 

 that the wild animals, the remains of which vrere discovered, lived and 

 died upon the rock during a long series of ages, and they gave a 

 detailed account of the manner in which they considered the bones 

 were introduced into the cave. They also recommended the forma- 

 tion of a local collection of these and other specimens, and urged 

 the appointment of a geologist to make a geological survey of the 

 rock. They concluded by expressing their opinion of the value and 

 importance of Capt. Brome's exploration of the Genista cavern. 



2 a 2 



