61 



and the vegetable matter of fuci. The materials were boiled toge- 

 ther, and then left for a longer or shorter time till consolidation took 



place. . J 



As gypsum, which was used in most of these experiments, does 

 not occur in the strata supposed to have been possibly consolidated 

 by the action of animal and vegetable matter, the author, to ascer- 

 tain whether gypsum might bo dispensed with, employed pure mag- 

 nesia, and with success. Specimens of consolidated magnesia were 

 shewn From some other experiments, the author is inclined to 

 believe that animal matter, fossilized in the centre of a mass con- 

 taining lime, attracts to itself the lime from the general mass. 



Further experiments must determine how far the observations of 

 the author are capable of being applied to explain any part of the 

 phenomena of tho consolidation of strata, or of the fossilizing of or- 

 ganic i-emains. 



The following Gentlemen were duly elected Ordinary Fel- 

 lows of the Society :— 



Dr Taylor, of Pau. 



Dr Pagan, F.R.C.S., Edinburgh. 



The following Donations to the Library were announced : 



Recueil des Actes de la Seance Publique de I'Academie Imperiale 

 des Sciences de Saint Petersbourg, tenue lo 29 Decembre 1844. 

 Meraoires de I'Academie Imperiale des Sciences de Saint Peters- 

 bourg (Sciences Politiques. &c.) Tome V., LiV- 5 and 6. 



Memoires de I'Academie Imperiale des Sciences de Saint Peters- 

 bourg (Sciences Mathematiques, &c.) Tome IV., Liv^''' 6. 



Memoires de I'Academie Imperiale des Sciences de Saint Peters- 

 bourg (presentes par divers Savans.) Tome IV., Liv-= 6.— 

 By the Academy. 



Catalogue of the Edinburgh Subscription Library, 1794-1846.— 

 By the Oficc-Bearers of the Library. 



Journal of the Statistical Society of London. Vol. VIII., Part 4.— 

 By the Society. 



Proceedings of the Geological Society of London. Vol. U ., No. 104. 

 — By the Society. 



