18 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [OCT. 18, 



erratic boulders over a limited area, and the shattered serpentine 

 comes directly to the surface. This hill is by no means the 

 highest ground in the vicinity, but the ice-sheet appears to have 

 flowed around it, there being well-marked moraines on all sides. 

 The highest points on the island are farther southwest, and here 

 the terminal moraine is heaped up on the serpentine ridge. 

 The hill under consideration is near the western edge of the 

 Upper Bay, and it would seem as though the glacier had been 

 diverted by it eastwardly towards the Narrows, it not being 

 overridden by the ice. 



The other area alluded to is west and southwest of Woodrow, 

 on the high ground of the southwestern portion of the island. 

 This is of much greater extent than the one above described, 

 and there is scarcely a boulder to be seen within its limits. I 

 have not had opportunity to define its boundaries, but am well 

 satisfied of its occurrence. The soil is sandy and may be part 

 of the Pre-Glacial Drift system; the outcrop of this recently 

 found by Mr. Hollick is within its bounds. It is not appreci- 

 ably yellow, however, and it is possible that it is underlaid by 

 one of the cretaceous sand beds. More field observations are 

 needed to settle this question. 



The subject was discussed by the President, Mr. Merrill, 



Professor Martin, and Mr. McDonald. 



October 18, 1886. 

 Stated Meeting. 



The President, Dr. J. S. Newberry, in the chair. 

 One hundred and twenty-nine persons present. 

 President Newberry read a paper on 



EARTHQUAKES, WHAT IS KNOWN AND BELIEVED ABOUT THEM 



BY GEOLOGISTS. 



From all quarters have come to me inquiries about the earth- 

 quake in Charleston. Because I am a teacher of geology it has 

 been taken for granted, quite gratuitously, that I know or ought 

 to know, all about the earth of which the structure and history 

 are the geologist's special objects of study. That he knows more 

 about these than other people is possible, but that he knows all 

 about them is unfortunately far from true. It is, however, nat- 

 ural that I should be appealed to for information in regard to 

 what is the most striking of all terrestrial phenomena; and 

 while I do not claim nor accept the title of '' Professor of Earth- 



