68 



ing-stool infliction on females. He referred to its use here in 1779, 

 and more recently elsewhere. He denied the legal power which a 

 magistrate or constable has to impose such repulsive and dangerous 

 punishment. 



Drawing of the Spicules of the Sponges dredged by Mr. M'Andrew 

 were exhibited by Mr. T. C. Archer and Mr. Byerley. 



The papers for the evening were then read :— 



ON THE SUB-DIVISIONS OF THE NEW RED SANDSTONE 

 BETWEEN THE RIVER DEE AND THE UP-THROW 

 OF THE COAL MEASURES EAST OF LIVERPOOL. 



ILLUSTRATED BY SECTIONS. 



By G. H. MOKTON. 

 The physical features of the district between tliese points, extending 

 seventeen miles from west to east, is characterized by five ranges of 

 hills runnino near north and south across the line of section. They 

 pursue a course parallel with the strike of the sandstone strata of 

 which they are composed, the principal faults being all due north and 



south. 



Beacon Hill, the northern extremity of the range, at the western 

 side of Wirral, presents a bold escarpment to the west, the base being 

 fringed with alluvial deposits. The descent to the east is much more 

 gradual in consequence of harder beds of sandstone dipping in that 

 direction. Between this hill and the Bidston range there exists a 

 wide valley, marked by two slight eminences at Greasby and Upton, 

 caused by faults throwing up the sandstone from under the "red 

 marl." The Bidston Hills are similar to the former range, with an 

 abrupt descent to the west, and the more gradual one to the east. 

 This range is formed of a different series of beds of the new red sand- 

 stone to those which contribute to the formation of the hills at the 

 mouth of the Dee, the cause of these similar forms arising from both 

 beintf composed of hard beds of sandstone declining eastward, resting 

 upon strata of a much softer consistency cropping out to the west, the 

 soft material has been denuded, the overlying beds broken abruptly off, 

 leaving a steep declivity westward in each case. 



The River Mersey occupies another valley. To the east the town of 

 Liverpool is situated upon a terrace of a range of hiUs that obtain their 

 greatest elevation, 230 feet, at about one and a half miles from the 

 river. Beyond Edge Hill, after a depression of the land deeply 

 covered with boulder clay, there rises a bold ridge, Olive Mount, 

 about 300 feet above the level of the sea, which gradually sinks east- 

 wards. There is then a valley crossed by the railway from Broad 



