160 PRESERVATION OF BONES. [i860. 



where he was rewarded by the exhibition of a fine 

 raised beach, of which several sketches were drawn ; 

 thence to Bideford, Sidmouth, &c., in search of gravel- 

 pits and Drift. Axminster was reached on the 25th, 

 whence visits to Colyton, Seaton, and Axmouth 

 brought this western journey to a close. 



In those short November days our geologist must 

 have worked from sunrise to sunset. 



J. Prestwich to H. Falconer. LONDON, 7th December 1860. 



MY DEAR FALCONER, I was much obliged by and interested in 

 your letter giving me the account of your visit to Amiens, with 

 the results of your inspection of the fossil bones. I made the 

 extracts you allowed me to do, and then handed the letter to 

 your brother. I much wish, however, not only to have your 

 remarks for my own perusal, but I should much like to give 

 them in the appendix to my paper, as their palseontological 

 bearing is so important. I do not, however, feel at liberty to do 

 so before consulting you and showing you what I should wish to 

 print this, not only for your permission, but also in case you 

 wish to make any alteration. 



With regard to the happement a la langue, I am not inclined to 

 attach very much importance to it. I find it varies much in 

 specimens from the same deposit. Much depends upon the 

 nature of the bed and its facility of percolation by water. 



The lower level and greater accumulation of water, and the 

 loose gravel of St Eoch, would, I think, lead generally to a more 

 rapid decomposition of the bones than at St Acheul, especially in 

 such beds of the latter place which contain any iron. There is 

 also a great difference between bones or teeth which occur in 

 sand and in chalk rubble : the latter are much less robbed of their 

 original materials, the matrix of carbonate of lime robbing the 

 water of its carbonic acid before reaching the bones. 



With regard to the theoretical views, I must discuss them with 

 you hereafter. I may here merely mention that I think the 

 lower gravel as well as the sand above it to be of fluviatile origin, 

 and not of very tumultuous origin, for in it there are at places 



