39 



or fragmentary. It has been said that flints are sponges, and to a certain 

 extent this is true, but it is not generally so. The objects embedded are 

 sponge spiculae, the detached spines of sea urchins of various kinds, the 

 crushed shells of sea urchins, fragments of the same shells, bivalve shells, 

 pieces of wood, and sometimes even pebbles. They present precisely the 

 same appearance as do the nodules of the coal measures ; sometimes the 

 silica has permeated through the object, and has left it free from a matrix, 

 at other times it has partially embedded it, and again at other times the 

 object is merely a central nucleus. The chemicals are the same as those 

 ■which have formed the nodules in the coal measures — viz., iron, lime, silica, 

 and sulphur, in dififerent proportions ; many flints contain a large amount 

 of lime — i.e., they are not thoroughly silicified ; others contain iron, and we 

 occasionally find sulphur along with them. On the whole, from an examina- 

 tion of a great number of specimens, many of which the lecturer exhibited 

 in illustration of his paper, he had come to the conclusion that the nodules 

 of the coal measures and the flints of the lime, whether chalk or oolite, had 

 been formed in the same manner, and by the same chemical substances, the 

 proportions of which had varied according to the substances originally in 

 solution in the water, and the composition of the strata through which the 

 water had passed. 



November 20th, 1885. 



J. W. ADDYMAN, B.A., on "A VISIT TO SOUTHEEN 

 NOEWAY." 



The lecturer illustrated his remarks by means of a large number of 

 photographs, some of which were thrown on the screen by the oxyhydrogen 

 lantern. After giving a general description of the route followed, pointing 

 out the places on the map, he described the general physical characteristics 

 of Norway, and exhibited views of Christiansand, Manflaa, Svindal, 

 and other places. Much information was afibrded respecting the primitive 

 character of the people, their dwellings, and general mode of life ; and 

 attention was especially drawn to their kindly manners and great courtesy 

 toward strangers, and the very general honesty of the people. In the 

 conversation which followed, some information was given regarding some 

 points in the natural history of Norway, and the great abundance of fish 

 and aquatic birds on the coast and in the lakes and rivers was especially 

 remarked upon, the comparatively high temperature of the sea being 

 mentioned as one of the causes of this abundance. 



November 21st, 1885. 



POND LIFE EXHIBITS. 



A number of interesting specimens were exhibited and examined 

 under the microscope. G. Hainsworth contributed a series of microscopic 

 slides, showing various portions of Dyticus marginalis (anterior leg of 



