2i8 Mr. William Thomson on 



the Autumn, as was suggested by Mr. Charles Bailey, 

 F.L.S., because of the fruit found. 



When allowed to dry the leaves became more brittle, 

 and they could then be separated from each other only 

 with much difficulty. These leaves and fruit have been 

 examined by different botanists, and the following identified 

 by Mr. W. Carruthers, F.R.S., of the British Museum ; 

 Mr. Scott, M.A., F.L.S.,of the Science and Art Department, 

 South Kensington ; Mr. Cosmo Melvill, F.L.S., Mr. Charles 

 Bailey, F.L.S., Mr. John Boyd, and Mr. Leo H. Grindon, of 

 Manchester : — 



Aspen {Pop7ilns trevmla, L.). 

 Oak {Qiierais Robur, L.). 

 Shoreweed {Litorella lacnstris). 

 Grey Willow {Salix cinerea). 

 Hawthorn {Cratcegus OxyacaiitJia). 

 Osier {Salix vhnmalis). 

 Fruit of the Rose (probably Rosa arvensis). 

 Black poplar {Popiiliis nigra). 

 Sedges. 



Bramble seeds. 

 Buttercup fruit. 

 Potaniogeton fruit. 

 Dock leaves. 

 Acer fruit. 



As to the age of this vegetation, so far as one can judge, 

 it must be at least some centuries and probably one or 

 more thousands of years. In some thin layers in the sand, 

 about the same depth from the surface, but at some distance 

 from this bed, I observed a number of bits of wood, rounded 

 pebbles, a few rounded bits of coal, &c. Mr. Percy F. 

 Kendal, of the Owens College, informed me that horns of 

 the red deer had been found in the Ship Canal cutting, 

 about the same depth underground, and that fact led him 

 to put the viinimnni age of this deposit at from 300 to 400 



