xlii 
Sauria, the Chelonia, Ophidian, and Batrachian reptiles, are equally 
numerous, and the results of these researches will be laid before the 
Association at our next meeting. Deeply impressed as we are with 
the value of this report, we cannot conclude a notice of it, without 
again alluding to its origin, in the words of Professor Owen himself. 
“TI could not,” says he, “ have ventured to have proposed to myself 
the British Fossil Reptilia as a subject of continuous and systematic 
research, without the aid and encouragement which the British As- 
sociation has liberally granted to me for that purpose.” 
Mr. Edward Forbes, whose labours in detecting the difference of 
species and varieties among the existing marine testacea of our shores, 
have been most praiseworthy, has on this occasion given us a valuable 
report on the pulmoniferous mollusca of the British isles. The varia- 
tions in the distribution of the species in this class of animals, are 
shown by him to depend both upon climate and upon soil, the structure 
of the country (or geological conditions) having quite as much share 
in such varied distribution, as the greatest diversity of temperature. 
The Association has also to thank the author for most useful tables, 
which show the distribution of the pulmoniferous mollusca in our is- 
lands, and their relations to those of Europe generally. 
One of the most interesting fruits of modern experimental research is 
the knowledge of the fact, that electrical currents are in continual cir- 
culation below the surface of the earth. Whether these currents, so 
powerful in developing magnetical and chemical phenomena, are con- 
fined to mineral veins and particular arrangements of metal and rock, 
or generally capable of detection by refined apparatus well applied, ap- 
peared a question of sufficient importance to deserve at least a trial on 
the part of the Association. Our present volume records the result of 
such a trial on the ancient and very regularly stratified rocks of Cum- 
berland, consisting of limestone, sandstone, shale, and coal, so super- 
imposed in many repetitions as to resemble not a little the common 
arrangement of a voltaic pile. ~Varied experiments, with a galvano- 
meter of considerable delicacy, failed, however, to detect, in these 
seemingly favourable circumstances, any electrical current. 
The extensive and rapidly increasing applications of iron to public 
and private structures of all kinds in which durability of material is a 
first requisite, have made it highly desirable to possess accurate informa- 
tion respecting the nature of the chemical forces which effect the de- 
struction of this hard and apparently intractable metal. The preser- 
vation of iron from oxidation and corrosion is indeed an object of para- 
mount importance in civil engineering. The Association was, there- 
fore, anxious to direct inquiry to this subject, and gladly availed itself 
