602 Meeting ofilie British Association. [Oct., 



for investigating tlie Leaf-beds of the Lower Bagshot series of the 

 Hampshire Basin," Of the Alum Bay plants, Mr. Mitchell observed 

 that the forms so abundant on the mainland were wanting here. 

 Aralias, Dryandras, Cussonias, Dalhergias, &c., had tm'ned up in 

 great abundance, as well as Cinnamon plants. Although the last- 

 named leaves appear to agree with some of the Smilactai, he was 

 fully convinced that they were true Cinnamons. The beds of 

 Whitechff Bay give promise of a still richer harvest. Specimens 

 have also been obtained near Corfe. An accurate survey of these 

 beds is being prepared to ascertain the relative levels of the Alum 

 Bay and Mainland beds, under the superintendence of Mr. Mitchell. 



Mr. Kobert Etheridge described the occurrence of a large de- 

 posit of Terra-cotta Clay at Watcombe, Torquay. The clay, which 

 is almost identical with that of Etruria, occupies a depression in 

 the New Eed Sandstone, which the author believed to have been 

 a fresh-water lake wherein the deposit was accumulated. The clay 

 is remarkable for its fine subdivision, and is of excellent quality for 

 the production of fictile wares. It contains more than 60 per cent, 

 of silica, 20 per cent of alumina, and 7 per cent, of peroxide of iron, 

 also soda and potash salts. 



Mr. J. Logan Lobley presented a very elaborate paper " On the 

 Distribution of the British Fossil LamelUhranchiata" containing 

 the results of a careful compilation of all the described species of fossil 

 Conchifera in Great Britain, which, when printed in extenso, will 

 furnish important Tables for the palseontologist and geologist. 



Professor James Tennant gave an account of the Diamonds 

 received from the Cape during the past year, the largest of which 

 weighed 83^ carats. 



Mr. John Edward Lee called attention to some remarkable 

 Glacial Striae exposed at Portmadoc, in North Wales. These 

 glaciated surfaces are by no means uncommon in Wales, but are 

 frequently concealed beneath beds of drift. The present glaciated 

 surface is very fine, but is being rapidly quarried away. 



Biology. (Section D.) 



When the Committee of this Section met on Wednesday the 

 18th, irrepressible Anthropology again led to a warm and somewhat 

 personal discussion. A separate department of Physiology was 

 proposed, and acceded to ; but when Dr. Hunt * proposed that a 

 department of Anthropology should also be formed, an objection 



* ]5oforc the close of the meeting, Dr. Hunt left Exeter seriously ill, aud it is 

 ■with great regret wc hear that he died a few days aftcrwanla. 



