cxiv. Proceedings. 



of rocks amongst which are limestones grooved, scratched, 

 and polished by the ice, and a most noticeable fact is that a 

 large number of remarkably small bits exhibit this rounding^ 

 scratching, and grooving in a most marked form, proving how 

 very close this enormous ice cap must have pressed upon the 

 rocks over which it passed. 



Another interesting feature in connection with this particular 

 section of Boulder Clay is that its upper portion appears to 

 belong either to a reconstructed condition of the lower portion, 

 or, as is considered by many local geologists, to be a continua- 

 tion of the Scandinavian drift. It contains flints scattered 

 sparingly through it, as well as pebbles of white quartz and 

 fragments of porphyry and sandstone. 



The flints are said to exactly resemble some obtained from a 

 similar deposit at Hamburg. 



I have also exhibited upon the table a small series of interest- 

 ing forms of the Magnesian limestone, part of which I 

 obtained at Marsden, but others have since been sent me 

 which came from quarries at Fulwell Hill ; the series of 

 specimens show the mammillated, radiate, spherular, columnar, 

 coral-like, brecciated structure of this series of rocks. At 

 Marsden the breccia is seen to advantage, immense chasms 

 in the rock having become entirely filled up with it. These 

 dykes are supposed to have been caused by volcanic disturbance 

 at some geological period, and the broken and splintered 

 fragments of the surface, falling or being washed in, were 

 cemented together in the solid breccia as we see them now. 



In conclusion,! can only say that the coasts of Northumber- 

 land and Durham are sure to well repay the visit of anyone 

 who is interested in either geology, botany, ornithology, 

 conchology, marine zoolog)-, entomology, or that which 

 embraces all, microscopy. 



Mr. Henry T. Mennell followed with some additional 

 remarks on the Islands. 



He said that Mr. Lovett's testimony to the advantages of 

 the Northern shores and climate was very gratifying to him 

 as a North-countryman. Those who like himself hailed from 

 the North were well aware of the fact, but they were also well 

 aware how long a time it took a South countryman to learn it. 

 He would only add to what Mr. Lovett had said, a few further 

 remarks on the geology of the district. 



Its most interesting geological feature was the great basaltic 

 dyke which ran across the whole of the counties of Northum- 

 berland and Durham, and to which these Fame Islands owed 

 their existence. Near the coast at Kyloe Crags it formed very 

 fine cliffs loo feet high. All these islands were outlyers of 

 this great mass of basalt. To the South-West, in the heart 



