

Sept. 7, 1871] 
NATURE 
Sia 

Boulder Clays ought rather to be regarded as an evidence of a 
temperate climate in the districts where they are found, than of 
a glacial epoch ; and in a communication now made he main- 
tained that there is no occasion to invoke any additional causes 
of change of climature over and above those which are known to 
exist. He made some remarks on the agency of the sea in scoop- 
ing out valleys and bays while clearing off or gathering over the 
surface of any area. 
Mr. J. E. Taylor read an interesting paper Ox the later Crag 
Deposits of Norfolk and Suffolk. Mr. Prestwich remarked that 
the belief was gradually gaining ground, that the Red Crag was 
contemporaneous with the Norwich Crag. In regard to the fossil 
contents, he pointed out the difficulty there was in distinguishing 
the extraneous species. 
Mr. P. W. Stuart Menteath read a very important paper 
On the Origin of Volcanoes, which, unfortunately, had to be 
hurried through in such a manner that but little could be gained 
from the hearing of it. 
L’Abbé Richard read a paper (in French) Ox Hydrogeology. 
Mr. W.S Mitchell reported Ox the Leaf-beds of the Lower 
Bagshot Series, 
Mr. C. W. Peach made some additions to the list of Fossils 
and Localities of the Carboniferous Formation in and around 
Edinburgh, and mentioned the occurrence of Litwites giganteus, 
The Rev. W. S. Symonds exhibited a new Ozchus spine from 
the Lower Oid Red sandstone of Hay, Brecon. 
A number of papers were held over until Wednesday, when it 
was arranged to read them ; but as none of the authors of pap-rs 
put in an appearance, Prof. Geikie adjourned the reading ot the 
papers unul the next meeting of the Association. 
SECTION D 
SUB-SECTION.—ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY 
Pror. WyVILLE THOMSON made some observations on the 
palzontolegical relations of the fauna of the North Atlantic, as 
brought to light in his recent diedging explorations in the North 
Atlantic. In introducing his observauons on the-e fauna, the 
professor called attention to the fact that, great as the results of 
the expedition in Her Majesty’s ship Porcupine might fairly be 
held to be considered as an addition to scientific knowledge, still, 
the acrual ground got over by dredging at any very considerable 
depth was of very small extent comparatively with what yet re- 
mained to be done. The ficld for these investigations, therefore, 
might be called in a sense unlimited. 
Prof. Van Beneden read a paper, Ov the Bats of the ** Mam- 
moth epoch as contrasted with those of the present day. 
MISCELLANEOUS 
Among these we may parti: ularly mention a paper by Mr. W. 
A. Lewis entitled A Proposal to modify the strict Law of Priority 
in Zoological Nomenclature in certain cases. The author insi-ted 
that it was perfect i: fatuatiun to serve blindly under word of the 
code drawn up under the sanction of the British Association 
now thirty years ago, and proposed that where there was now 
(August 1871) a universal agreement about a specific name, that 
name shall not be displaced on account of any prior name being 
discovered. 
Dr. Sclater made some remarks on what he held to be an 
appropriate opportunity of establishing zoological observatories 
in connection with certain astronomical observatories which 
were to he established fur the purpose of taking observations of 
the trans t of Venus in 1874. On the «ccasion «f the approach- 
ing transit, the Astronomer-Royal proposed to organise. bservi: g 
expeditions to the following five stations :—(1) Oohu, Sandwich 
Islands ; (2) Ke guelen’s Island ; (3) Rodrigues ; (4) Auckland, 
New Zealand; (5) Alexandria, At the first three of these 
stations it would be necessary to have a corps of scientific 
observers resident for twelve months previous to the transir, in 
order thit the absolute lonyitude of these places, which was not 
now correctly known, might be obtained. Dr. Sclater pointed 
out how lutle was yet known of the terrestrial and marine 
zoology of these three islands, and specified various particulars 
in the case of each of their faunas, which it would be especially 
desirable to investigate. He then urged that the addition of one 
or more zoological collectors or observing naturalists to the corps 
of astronomical observers in each of these stations would occa- 
sion very slight additional expense, and suggested that application 


should be made to the Government to allow such naturalists to 
accompany the expedition, and to undertake the necessary ex- 
plorations. He stated that there was a precedent for this course 
in what had been done in the case of the Abyssinian expedi- 
tion. 
The department unanimously concurred in the suggestion, 
end the desirability of such an application to Government being 
made, 
Dr. Grierson read a paper On the Importance of forming 
Provincial Museums, in which the Products of Districts might be 
Exhibited, "These museums could be connected with consulting 
and lending libraries. and from a central source there could be 
sent articles for exhibition at different times, and also persons 
who could give instructions on such subjects. Such institutions 
would not «nly tend to spread knowledge amongst the people, 
but they would be a means of preventing intemperance and 
improving their moral habits. 
Miss Lydia Becker said she took an interest in this subject as 
one of those to whom asmall share of responsibility had been 
given in enforcing the Education Act, being a member of the 
School Board of Manchester. That Board was now about to 
issue a scheme for a general course of instruction, and had 
appointed a committee for that purpose, of which she was a 
member. It had always seemed to her to be a matter of extreme 
importance to introduce such habits of observation as would 
follow from the introduction of natural science into elementary 
schools. She believed there was no portion of the population 
who were more likely to be interested in the matter than the 
children who attended these schools. They came there with 
their minds fresh and open to receive those impressions which 
were given in childhood, and they were very apt scholars. It 
had been said that the difficulty was in teaching boys ; but she 
thought it was of as much consequence to teach girls natural 
science as boys. With regard to the principles of physiology 
and the laws of health, she thought that if any difference was to 
be made between the sexes, the girls should be first considered 
in the matter, as so much of the health of the population 
depended on the intelligence of women in these matters. 
Sir Walter Elliot read a paper Ox the Advantage of Systematic 
Co-operation among Provincial Natural History Societies, It 
stated that a comparaiively hurried inquiry had disclosed the 
existence of 115 such societies in Great Britan and Ireland. 
With reference to their publications, although the volumes of a 
few of the more important were found in several public libraries, 
the transactions of by far the greater number did not extend 
beyond their own localities. In this way not only were the great 
body of naturalists shut out from much useful information, but 
the isolation which existed must be detrimental to the societies 
themselves. Two modes of remedying the evil suggested them- 
selves to his mind. One was, to have a central committee or 
single editor to collect and condense the most useful materials in 
all the local transactions ; and the other, to form groups of 
societies, and publish the more original and valuable papers in 
each group under a joint editorship. 
Mr. Symonds, who had been connected with the Cotswold 
Field Club for many years, said one of the great difficul ies con- 
nected with these sucieties had been condensing the reports and 
publishing the papers that were wo th publishing in one general 
volume otf transactions. In Gloucester, paper ater paper was 
published of the most valuable kind that would have done honour 
to the Koyal Society if they had been read there, but which it 
was impossible for persons to obtain unless they were members 
of the club, or had friends who were members of it. He thought 
the difficulty could be met by having a council composed of the 
presidents, vice-presidents, and secretaries of field clubs through- 
out the length and breadth of the lind, by whom the papers 
which were worth publisring could be selected. The p per 
which Sir Walter had now read would, he hoped, have the 
effect of producing some organisation among these clubs such as 
he had suggested. 
A short discussion took place on the desirableness of some 
effort being made to utilise the information which was contained 
in many of the papers read before these clubs, and Sir Walter 
E liot said he believed that before these meetings had closed a 
meeting would be held of those interes.ed in this matter, to con- 
sider what should be done. 
Three papers on Spontaneous Generation were read; the 
first of which, by Dr. Ferrier and Dr. Burdon Sanderson, 
F.R.S., was On the Origin and Distribution of Bacteria in Water, 
