.512 Geological Society. 



blisktnent to the retardation of the effects caused by atmospherical 

 conduction and localities, in the same manner that the term tidal 

 establishment has been employed to denote the local constant by 

 ■which the astronomical effects on the tides are delayed. 



The tables annexed to the paper assume that the degree of the 

 thermometer is proportional to the cosine of the sun's meridian alti- 

 tude, commencing with that on the day of observation, and ending 

 with the altitude thirty days previously. After explaining the for- 

 mation of these tables, and detailing the conclusions derivable from 

 them, the author gives a sketch of the perturbing causes, such as 

 oceanic evaporation, mountain ranges, and other local influences ; he 

 then enters into a discussion of the mathematical expression for the 

 daily heat ; and he concludes with some observations on the theories 

 of temperature and isothermal lines, as affected by the electrical and 

 magnetical conditions of tiie earth, dependent on its rotation on its 

 axis. 



March 10. — The following papers were read, viz. — 



1. "Meteorological Observations, taicen in conformity with the 

 Report drawn up by the Committee of Physics, including Meteoro- 

 logy, for the guidance of the Antarctic Expedition ; as also for the 

 fixed Magnetic Observatories, at the Magnetic Observatory, Ross- 

 Bank, Van Diemen's Land, for July and August 1841." Commu- 

 nicated by the Master-General of the Ordnance. 



2. " Meteorological Register kept at Port Arthur, Van Diemen's 

 Land, during the Year 1839." By Deputy Assistant Commissary- 

 General Lerapriere. Communicated by Captain Beaufort, R.N., 

 F.R.S. 



3. A paper was in part read, entitled, " Contributions to the Clie- 

 mical History of the Compounds of Palladium and Platinum." By 

 Robert Kane, M.D., M.ll.LA. Communicated by Francis Baily, 

 Esq., V.P.R.S. 



GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Extracts from the Address delivered on the Anniversary, February 

 19th ('l84-]), by the Rev. Professor Buckland, D.D., P.G.S. 



[Continued from p. 434.] 



BLACK BAND OF IRONSTONE IN SCOTLAND. 



A most important discovery has recently been made in the coal 

 formation of the West of Scotland, of several beds of ironstone (lo- 

 cally called the Black Band), which are of such great importance in 

 the manufacture of iron, that its application to the smelting furnace 

 has lately raised the value of a single estate at Airdrie more than 

 10,000/. per annum. There are several beds of this ironstone, va- 

 rying from fourteen to twenty-two inches in thickness ; they contain 

 very little clay, and nearly as much carbonaceous matter as serves 

 to calcine the iron ; for this reason it is more valuable than the clay 

 ironstones hitlierto used, of which in tliis Scotch coal-field there are 

 sixty-six. As it is probable that similar beds of tliis most valuable 



