Geological Societi/. 555 



■which constitute the Paris and London basins ; but anterior to 

 the accumulation of the diluvial gravel. 



The calcareous concretions of New Holland have in some in- 

 stances a tubular and stem-like appearance ; and have thence been 

 mistaken for corals, and petrified branches of trees. 



November 18. — A Notice was read, respecting the appearance 

 of Fossil Timber on the Norfolk Coast; by Richard Taylor, Esq., 

 of Norwich. In consequence of an extraordinary high tide which 

 visited the coast of Norfolk on the 5th of February 1825, large 

 portions of the cliffs, sometimes exceeding 200 feet in height, 

 were precipitated into the sea, and an opportunity was afforded 

 of examining the site of a stratum containing a number of fossil 

 trees, exposed on the east and west side of the town of Cromer. 

 h\ this singular stratum, composed of laminae of clay, sand, and 

 vegetable matter, and about four feet in thickness, the trunks 

 were found standing as thickly as is usual in woods, the stumps 

 being firmly rooted in what appears the soil in which they grew. 

 They are invariably broken off about a foot and a half from the 

 base. The stem and branches lie scattered horizontally ; and 

 amongst them are thin layers of decomposed leaves, but no fruits 

 or seed-vessels. The species of timber appear to be chiefly of the 

 Pine tribe ; with occasional specimens of elm and oak : they are 

 flattened by the pressure of the overlying alluvial strata. Mr. 

 Taylor has not observed any animal remains in the stratum, ex- 

 cept the skull of one of the Deer tribe ; but he supposes that 

 the bones of Elephants and other herbivorous animals, found near 

 this site, may have been washed out of the same bed. 



December 2. — A paper was read entitled, " An Account of an 

 undescribed Fossil Animal from the Yorkshire Coal-field ; by John 

 Atkinson, F.L.S., and Edward Sanderson George, F.L S. 



December 16. — A paper was read, " On the Chalk and Sands 

 beneath it (usually termed Green Sand), in the vicinity of Lyme 

 Regis ; by H. T. De la Beche, Esq. F.G.S., &c." 



Mr. De la Beche observes, that we ought not to suppose that 

 the sands, marles, and clays, which are immediately subjacent to 

 the chalk in the cast of England, can be traced into other and 

 distant countries, where however these sandr., &c. as a mass, may 



