126 Progress in Science. (January, 
Railways.—A new line of railway 154 miles in length was opened early in 
September between Bristol and Redstock. It joins the Great Western Railway 
at Bristol, and is laid on the narrow gauge system. At present only a single 
line of rails has been laid, but the arches are wide enough for a double line if 
necessary at any future time. 
The remaining portion of the Devon and Somerset Railway, between 
Wiveliscombe and Barnstaple, 36 miles in length, has recently been completed. 
Owing to the line running at right angles to the principal valleys and water- 
courses of the district, the works are in some places very heavy, involving, in 
addition to deep cuttings and high embankments, several tunnels passing 
through the ridges between the valleys, and some large river viaducts. One of 
these, crossing the valley of the river Tone, near Wiveliscombe, is 110 feet 
high, and has four spans, each too of feet. The construction adopted being 
lattice girders carried on stone abutments and piers. Another viaduét across 
the valley of the river Bray, in Castle Hill Park, is 100 feet high, and has six 
spans, each of 100 feet. The construction being similar to that adapted for 
the Tone valley viadu@; and there is also a large iron bridge over the river 
Exe, near Dulverton. 
The list deposited this year at the Private Bill Office of projects for con- 
sideration during the coming session embraces 395 notices, of which, how- 
ever, only 244 are accompanied by plans. Amongst these 121 relate to railway 
schemes, 7 to tramways, and 65 bills belong to the miscellaneous class, which 
includes docks, harbours, gas and water-works, reclamation schemes, street 
extensions, and local improvements. Amongst the railway projects are the 
following :—A proposition to complete the Inner Circle of the Metropolitan 
Railway by means of a line from Aldgate to the Metropolitan Distri& Railway 
at Cannon Street. The construction ofa Metropolitan Inner Circle Completion, 
and Eastern Extension Railway, by which it is proposed to form a line from 
the Metropolitan District Railway in Queen Victoria Street to the Metropolitan 
Railway at Aldgate, with extensions to Mile End and Bow, and junétions 
with the North London and East London Railways. It also includes a new 
street from King William Street to Fenchurch Street, and the widening of 
the latter street. Besides these there are the following schemes affecting the 
Metropolis, viz., the Metropolitan and South-Western Junction Railway 
Company’s project for a line in Fulham between the authorised Hammersmith 
Extension Railway at North End-Road, and their own authorised line at a 
point near where it crosses the river; the Wandsworth, Fulham, and Metro- 
politan Railway scheme for a line from the Wandsworth Bridge to the 
authorised Metropolitan and South-Western Junction Railway at Fulham ; 
the Ealing, Acton, and City Railway, which will unite the Hammersmith and 
City Railway with the Great Western and Brentford line; and the Acton and 
Hammersmith Railway to unite the North and South-Western Junction and 
Hammersmith Extension Railways. There are several projects for improved 
communication with the Crystal Palace; and most of the principal lines of 
railway propose improvements in the shape of short lines and junctions 
whereby increased facilities will be afforded to the travelling public. 
GEOLOGY. 
Physical Geology.—Baron Von Richthofen has recently described the exten- 
sive sheet of mud-like strata which extends over Northern China. It is called 
“Loess,” from its resemblance to the river-loam of Germany, and has a 
thickness varying from 1000 to 2000 feet. There is not a trace of this forma- 
tion in Southern China, and its occurrence in the northern parts produces 
quite a different class of physical scenery. ‘The expanse of loess is cut up by 
vast chasms, a thousand feet in depth, along whose bottoms the streams flow. 
As regards its origin, after showing that it extended from the sea-level to an 
altitude of 12,000 feet, the Baron stated that it must have been formed where 
it is now seen, and by sub-aérial agencies. Of these, one of the chief had 
been the wind and the fine dust-storms, which often lasted for many days 
together, Rains also were great agents in the accumulation, He had 
