242 EXAMINATION OF THE GLACIAL DEPOSITS. 



A SCHEME FOE THE 



EXAMINATION OF THE GLACIAL DEPOSITS OF THE 



MIDLAND COUNTIES OF ENGLAND. 



BY WM. JEROME HARRISON, F.G.S., 



CURATOK OF TUE TOWN MCSEUM, LEICESTER. 



One of the great advantages which it was hoped would result from 

 the formation of the Midland Union of Scientific Societies, was the 

 opportunity which it would offer to distant workers to hecome acquainted 

 with one another, with a view to combined work upon the many scientific 

 problems which our district offers to us for solution. 



At the Annual Meeting of the Union, at Birmingham, on May 28th, 

 I ventured to suggest the Glacial Deposits of the Midlands as a subject 

 peculiarly fitted for our joint efforts, and as this idea was favourably 

 received both at the time and since, I now venture to offer a few sugges- 

 tions as to the way in which we should begin work. 



I. — The Workeks.— No Society can plead an absence of material 

 on which to work. The stratified rocks which constitute what we term 

 the solid geology of our country run in tolerably definite bands, but the 

 glacial di-ift is scattered irregularly all over the face of the countiy, and 

 is with us everywhere. Each Society then should appoint one of its 

 members who should act as secretary or record keeper for the particular 

 study we propose to attempt. The other members who are wiUing to 

 aid actively in the task should give in their names to him, and he should 

 summon meetings of such members at frequent intervals. 



A chief duty of the record secretary would be to keep a large 

 observation book, in which to enter all notes and discoveries. If this 

 book contained plenty of guards such members as preferred it might 

 write out the results of their own work, which could then be pasted in the 

 book. 



As it would be absolutely necessary to gain personal experience, it 

 would probably be easy to arrange for joint meetings of aU who take an 

 active interest in this work in the various districts in turn. The typical 

 deposits of the east and west coasts and of Scotland would also be 

 visited and examined. 



II. — The Work. — In the first place it would be necessary for each 

 worker, or at all events each Society, to obtain the Ordnance Maps, both 

 plain and geologically colom-ed, of their neighbourhood. 



Upon the plain maps they should distinguish by dots and numbers 

 the precise position of every gravel pit, brick pit, etc., where the surface 

 deposits are well exposed. Each of these sections should then be visited 

 in turn and carefully examined. Each should be measured, and a plan 

 and section — no matter how rough, if fairly accurate — di-awn to scale ; if 

 a water-colour sketch could bo inado of the principal face so much the 

 bettor. In as many cases as possible an idea of the height of each point 

 above the sea level should be obtained cither by aneroid, levelhng, or 



