217 



The author next proceeded to the consideration of wood coal, or 

 lignite, and exhibited specimens of this rock with and without the 



woody texture with a brown and black streak — with a lustrous and 



dull streak — and with the ligneous structure, and as cherry coal, un- 

 distinguishablo from the same rock in the older measures. He 

 closed his remarks on the brown coals by adverting to the coal-money 

 oi the Kimmeridge coal, and to the condition of amber as belonging 

 to this epoch. 



In the third and concluding part of his paper, he pointed out the 

 characteristic features of the four kinds of coals found in the coal 

 measures. The lustre, fracture, and streak, from exhibited speci- 

 mens, he demonstrated to be variable and unsatisfactory as charac- 

 ters ; while chemical test indicated the absence of bitumen. He ad- 

 verted to the different kinds of matter occurring in coal as indicated 

 by the microscope, and exhibited specimens of seeds dispersed 

 through splint and cherry coal. He concluded his remarks by ad- 

 verting to cannel coal, as exhibiting, in its varieties, the conchoidal 

 and slaty fracture, the lustrous and dull surface and streak ; and in 

 reference to the Boghead cannel or gas coal, adverted to in this 

 Society as the " Torbanehill mineral," and denominated " bitumen- 

 ite" by Dr Traill, ho considered all the characters employed to 

 remove it from its position as a cannel coal, as variable, differing in 

 degree not in kind, and not generally recognised. 



The following Gentleman was elected an Ordinary Fel- 

 low: — 



WiLLiAU MuREAT, Esq. of Monkland, F.G.S. 



Monday, 6th February 1854. 



Right Rev. BISHOP TERROT, Vice-President, in the 

 Chair. 



The following Communication was read : — 



Observations on the Structure of the Torbanehill Mineral, 

 as compared with various kinds of Coal. By Professor 

 Bennett. 



S 2 



