I 



111. 



Modern Silurians may ■well be content, anil venture to defend against all 

 comers. It is to me a matter of no small congratulation that the district 

 embraced by our club is one so rich in the more difficult and remote problems of 

 Geology, and the still more interesting one of Palasontological research. Of 

 all the physical sciences of our time. Geology may be called the most ad- 

 vancing, in the sense of a pursuit coupled with the prospect of discovery. This 

 is encouragement, even to beginners, to work with the unfailing energy of hope ; 

 since the prize of discovery is held before all, and the hidden treasures stored 

 away in the rocks only await the touch of that zealous and fortunate hand that 

 shall release and secure them. To a persevering geologist of oiu- day everything 

 seems to lie open and possible. If he is blest with true luck, who can say (since 

 the last edition of the Siluria), that he may not find a Fish, or even a Mammal, 

 in the "Wenlock Limestone ? and thus astonish the whole geological w^orld, aa 

 much as the astronomer who has found a new asteroid, or the re-appearauce 

 of the lost twin of a double star. It was only by such "persistent constancy" 

 of patient research that Sir Roderick himself collected the materials of that 

 great work of which the past year has given us the 4th edition. In this he gives 

 us a still larger knowledge of the oldest and lowest rocks, occurring in N. 

 America and elsewhere in the form of Chrystalline Gneiss, and now called 

 "Laurentian," which constitute the foundation stone of all Palajozoic deposits 

 in the crust of the globe. The Cambrian rocks of the Longmynd, 26,000 feet 

 thick, and of North AVales, are now no longer the bottom rocks, and are known 

 to contidn some traces of maiine animal life. In the Lingula Flags which 

 succeed, 5,000 feet thick, many new and interesting forms are specified, 

 especially the Trilohites paradoxidcs, and others. The succeeding Llandeilo 

 formation, also 5,000 feet, is largely treated of, with its abundant Trilobitcs, 

 GraptoUtes, and other fossils. Passing upward through the Caradoc sandstone, 

 Llandovery beds, and "Wenlock limestone, the interesting discovery of the 

 remains of a fish (Pteraspis Tradensis) tlie oldest kno^vn vertebrate, at Leint- 

 wardine in this county, is alluded to ; 300 additional Silurian species of fossils 

 are given, and several of the published species ai'e omitted, being identified with 

 others previously described ; and some well-known names have been exchanged 

 for more correct ones, as a more extended knowledge of these primeval forms 

 of life has been obtained. A much larger number of Trilobites is given, including 

 many new species. An important alteration has been made in the classifica- 

 tion of the supposed Old Red of Elgin in Scotland, by the identification of the 

 Hiqjerodapedou of the New Red Sandstone (Lower Keuper) of "Warwick, with 

 the same reptUe at Elgin, the sandstone of which is now referred with the othei- 

 reptilian vestiges it contains (Tdcrpator and StatjanoUpis) to the Trias. I will 

 conclude this very brief notice with the expression of my hope that this important 

 Work may be purchased for our Library. 



But outside the immediate proceedings of our Club, the year has not been 

 one by any means barren of general scientific incident. This we must in any 

 case admit, in view of the great French Exhibition, which has afforded the 



