Geological Society. 137 



The fresh-water formations described in this communication 

 have been examined by means of several wells sunk at about 

 the distance of three-quarters of a mile and a mile and a half 

 fi'om the Mediterranean, near Sete, in the South of France. 



A detailed account is given of the several strata passed 

 through in the three different wells, and of the organic re- 

 mains which they contained. 



The strata are for the most part parallel and nearly hori- 

 zontal. 



From the sections it appears there are two fresh-water 

 formations with an intervening formation of marine origin. 

 The strata of the upper fresh-water were found to vary from 

 about 30 to 40 feet in thickness; those of the lower from 13 

 to 28 feet : the latter being somethnes lower than the present 

 level of the Mediterranean. 



The marine beds which are interposed, are from 10 to 11 

 feet thick. 



The fresh-water strata are composed of numerous alternat- 

 ing calcareous and argillaceous marls, and compact limestones; 

 and their organic remains consist of a few bones of land qua- 

 drupeds much decayed, a variety of fresh-water and terrestrial 

 shells, the latter in the greatest abundance; the shells differ- 

 ing in species but not in genera from the present inhabitants 

 of the same country; and lastly, some traces of vegetables, 

 chiefly i-eeds. 



. The marine formations contain ostrece, cerithia, &c. : — A 

 complete list is added of the organic remains : — from the state 

 of preservation in which the fresh-water shells are found, 

 Mons. Marcel de Serres infers that they lived and were de- 

 posited where they are now found ; and from the resemblance 

 of those occurring in the upper and lower fresh-water beds, 

 he concludes that the periods at which these two formations 

 were deposited were not very remote from each other. 



The author considers all these formations to be more re- 

 cent than the Calcairc Grossicre, and ascribes the alternations 

 of marine and fresh-water strata to a return of the sea; such 

 a suppostion being rendered the more probable by the neigh- 

 bourhood of the Mediterranean, where similar returns are still 

 known to take place. 



On February 4, being tlie Anniversary of the Societj', the 

 following members were chosen as Officers and Council for 

 the ensuing year : — 



Prcsiihmt: Rev. William Huckland, F.ll.S. Prof. Grol. and 

 Min. Oxford. — Vice-Presidents: Sir Alexander Crichton, M.D. 

 F.R. & L.S. Hon. Memb. Imp. Acad. Si. Peter sbnrgh ; William 

 Henry Fitloii, M.D. F.R.S.; Charles Stokes, Esq. F.R.A. & 



Vol.65. No. 322. Feb. 1825. S L.S 



