Mr. Brown's second Paper was on the Rhsetic Beds: the following 

 is a brief abstract: — 



The Rhaitic Beds are true passage beds Ijetwccn the New Red Marl and 

 the overlying Lias, and link the two formations together without any 

 stratigraphical or pakeontological break. After referring to the recogni- 

 tion of these beds in England by the late Dr. Wright, of Cheltenham, 

 and Mr. Moore, and their correlation with certain Alpine strata, the 

 author proceeded to describe some detached portions or outliers of the 

 Rhictic Beds, which occur in Needwood Forest. These were shown to 

 consist of a thick mass of light green marls overlaid by black shales, 

 resembling somewhat in appearance coal measure shale. A complete 

 section of the Rhii;tic Bed showing the junction with the overlying and 

 underlying formations at Wigston, near Leicester, was then described 

 and the points of resemblance to the Needwood section were dwelt upon. 

 The author concluded with some remarks upon the physical conditions 

 under which the Rhtetic Beds were deposited, and to the undue change 

 which must have attended the deposition ol certain beds in the Wigston 

 district. 



During the Summer of 11^84, the only Excursion of much interest 

 to members of this section was the one to Cresswell Crags, where the 

 Dolomite Beds and Bone Caves gave ample occupation to the one or 

 two Geologists present. The Dolomite question, as explained by Mr. 

 Henry Louis to the members of this Society in his most interesting 

 Paper some years back, is one of great practical interest, and as being 

 still but partly solved, some of the members of our section are at work 

 upon it, fortunately a repetition of the Excursion to Creswell is promised, 

 and we hope a good party will avail themselves of this opportunity. 



During the Darley Dale Excursion some of the members found in- 

 teresting sections of the recent deposits of moorland upon the rough 

 gritstone of East Moor. 



Three other evenings set apart for members of this section were 

 not utilized, the Secretary and one Member, in each case, being alone, 

 so that it is evident that unless meetings are called for some special 

 object, members do not care to meet in the Society's Room for con- 

 versation and discussion, even though they may expect to meet only 

 those interested in the special subject with which they are interested, as 

 was hoped by the Committee when arranging for the past year. 



FRANK LOTT, 



Hon. Sec 



