12 



ton, the basement bed of the London clay was met with, 

 and the iron sandstone contained in it was extensively quarried 

 for smelting purposes. The Woolwich sands were not, at 

 least in this portion of them, fossiliferous, and the fossils found 

 were mostly in the form of casts, the ferruginous sandstone 

 helping to preserve the form. They were partly fluviatile 

 and partly marine, the fresh water deposits prevailing to a 

 greater extent as they approach London. In reference to 

 the physical features exhibited, it might have been remarked 

 by the Excursionists that a deep gorge appeared opposite 

 Chilham and Wye, through which the Stour winds its way, 

 and it was probable that the area of the Wealden, which had 

 been denuded at various times had, at a late date, geologi- 

 cally speaking, been a large lake or sea, the gorge being formed 

 by the breaking through of the waters at a point near Wye. 

 The deposits of gravel and sand would thus be left in parallel 

 ridges on either side of the valley, and the more yielding 

 portion, as the Thanet sands, have been washed away or 

 denuded. This appeared one explanation of the peculiar physi- 

 cal features that were exhibited. Mr. Dowker concluded by 

 apologising for the unconnected character of his remarks, 

 being quite unprepared to illustrate the subject. 



The Rev. B. S. Malden gave a summary of a paper, on 

 the importance of small birds to agriculturists, which has been 

 recently published in The Times as a translation from the 

 French. He observed that the subject treated upon was one 

 to which the members of the Society might advantageously 

 direct their attention. 



The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the 

 Dean for presiding. 



