tf tfa 



SHALL endeavour to lay before you a general 

 view of the results of the various physical 

 changes of the earth in past ages affecting the climates 

 of Europe and the distribution of life, especially of 

 plant-life. I am aware of the difficulty of the task, 

 both on account of my own inability as well as the 

 mass of matter to be examined and epitomized into a 

 short address such as this. 



Before entering into the subject I beg to congratu- 

 late you upon the issue of the second Volume of the 

 Proceedings, which contains useful information on 

 various subjects connected with the natural history and 

 antiquities of our county. The paper by Mr. Clemen- 

 shaw, which goes into the region of chemical geology, 

 will be read with interest, and I hope it is an earnest of 

 future contributions from him. The botany of Holwcll, 

 by our Treasurer, is an important addition to this 

 section of our work, and not the least instructive part 

 of the Paper is, the discovery of an isolated calcareous 

 deposit by the presence of Clematis Vitalba, a 

 plant which renounces all connection with 



