THE OSSIFEROUS CAVERNS OF DEVONSHIRE. 36] 
the summer extension of the north-water of Baffin Bay. It is not 
included by Dr. Bessels among the animals of Hall Land. An 
ancient tusk of the Narwhal was picked up by Lieut. Parr, R.N., 
on the shore of Grinnell Land, a little above the present sea-level, 
a few miles to the north of the winter-quarters of the ‘ Alert.’ 
tiie 
THE OSSIFEROUS CAVERNS OF DEVONSHIRE. 
By W. Pence ty, F.R.S., F.G.S.* 
WHEN, as long ago as 1841, the British Association made its 
only previous visit to Plymouth, some of us, now amongst its oldest 
members, thought ourselves too young to take any part in its 
proceedings. If the effects of that meeting are still traceable in 
this district, it will be admitted, of course, that the seed then sown 
was of excellent quality and that it fell on good soil. Be this as it 
may, the hope may be cherished that thirty-six years will not again 
be allowed to elapse between two consecutive visits to the capital 
of the two south-western counties. One effect of this wide hiatus 
is the loss of almost all the human links whose presence on this 
occasion would have pleasantly connected the present with the 
past. A glance at the lists of Trustees and the General, Sectional 
and Local officers in 1841 will show that the presence of scarcely 
‘one of them can be hoped for on this occasion; and there is but 
little probability that any of those who prepared Reports or Papers 
for the last Plymouth Meeting will have done so for that which is 
now assembled. 
Nor are these the only changes. In 1841 Section C embraced, 
as at the beginning, the geographers as well as the geologists; but 
ten years later the geographers were detached, whether to find 
room for themselves, or to make room for the students of an older 
geography, it is not necessary to inquire. Some years afterwards 
came an innovation which, until entering on the preparation of 
this Address, 1 always regarded as a decided improvement. The 
first Presidential Address to this Section was delivered at Leeds in 
1858, by the late Mr. Hopkins, so well known to geologists for 
his able application of his great mathematical powers to sundry 
important problems in their science; and from that time to the 
* Opening Address as President of Section C. Read at the Meeting of the British 
Association, Plymouth, August, 1877. 
BA 
