Geological Society. 305 



elephant: and we must consider the small proportion which the legs 

 of a reptile bear to the length of its body, in order to form any 

 notion of the gigantic proportions of this quadruped. 



Finally, I have to notice a communication from Mr. Hennab, 

 containing a systematic and descriptive catalogue of the fossils of 

 the transition limestone of Plymouth, read at our last meeting. 



Such, Gentlemen, have been the memoirs presented to us since 

 our former Anniversary. I have brought them before you in that 

 order in which they seem to cast light upon each other ; and I 

 have indulged in no comments but such as sprang immediately 

 from the subjects themselves. 



I rejoice in the number and activity of our provincial institutions ; 

 and still more that the same spirit which has of late years induced 

 so many Englishmen to combine for the furtherance of natural 

 knowledge, is extending to our colonies in America and Asia. 

 From the labours of so many ingenious men, united for the same 

 end, and with opportunities for observation so widely different, the 

 happiest results may be anticipated. 



I should wish to say something on the general structure of the 

 Alps ; and to describe the speculations of one of our Foreign Mem- 

 bers and best fellow-labourers on the different epochs of eleva- 

 tion. These are inviting topics, to which, on a future occasion, I 

 may perhaps return : but had I even time for their discussion, it 

 would not be well for me, at present, to trust myself in so wide a 

 field. 



Of the various works which, during the past year, have been 

 poured out from the German and French press, on subjects con- 

 nected with geology, it is impossible for me to offer an analysis, or 

 even an enumeration. Most of them are the productions not only 

 of great talent, but of great good sense; not only of great labour, 

 but of labour happily directed. And it is no small matter of 

 pride to this Society, that its researches have been highly valued 

 by the naturalists of the Continent. They have not given their 

 praises to us grudgingly; but have sometimes scattered them with 

 a lavish hand ; and have, I fear, awarded to us higher honours than 

 we ourselves can be conscious of deserving. I think I could point 

 out more than one Essay, in which, during the past year, the geo- 

 logists of the Continent have injured their descriptions of secon- 

 dary formations, and impeded their own inductive powers, by fixing 

 their eyes too steadily on the types of the Enlgish series. 



I congratulate you on the com])letion of the geological map of 

 Germany, by an illustrious naturalist, who for many years has de- 

 voted, and continues still to devote, the best efforts of his life to the 

 promotion of our science. lie has not affixed his name to this 

 great work, and he perhaps still regards some parts of it but as an 

 approximation. The elaborate and accurate maps of north-western 

 (iermany by Professor Iloff'mann, and of the Odenwald and the 

 neighbouring districts by Dr. Klipstein, belong also to the produc- 



N. S. Vol. 7. No. W. April 1830. 2 R tions 



