404 REPORT—1885. 
proves that they were fronds tufted on a rhizome and not lateral pinnz, as I 
had surmised from the isolated specimens previously known. Their re- 
semblance to the living P. geminatwm and other tropical American species is 
very striking. 
Fig. 7a is enlarged twice, and 7) four times. 
Fig. 8. Fragment of a Fern from Bournemouth, very like Gymnogramma aurea, the 
Golden Fern of our conservatories, but with larger pinnules. It might prove 
to be an Adiantum or Lindsaya, but the veins are relatively wide apart. 
Though in beautiful preservation the fragment is too small for determination. 
Fig. 8a is part of the same enlarged twice. 
Fig. 9. Fragment of Zygodiwm from the Lower Bagshot, Studland. Though like the 
Bournemouth Z. Kaulfussii the veins are much closer, and it seems inter- 
mediate in form between that and the Woolwich species. No Lygodium of 
this age was previously known. { 
Fig. 10. Adiantwm from Bournemouth. The rachis has somehow disappeared, leaving 
the pinne undisturbed in their relative positions. It is quite distinct from _ 
any fossil Adiantum previously known, and is identical with A. flabellulatum, 
Linn., of Ceylon, Japan, Hindostan, and the Malayan Peninsula and Islands. 
The unique impression is exceedingly fine, delicate, and colourless. The 
enlargement, fig. 10a, has, I fear, not quite included the margin, which is 
very slightly denticulate, and too much mid-rib is shown, for most of the 
veins actually diverge from the base, repeatedly forking, so that their relative 
distances are maintained to the margin. They are more crowded than in 
another Bournemouth maidenhair, A. apalophyllum. 
These Ferns add to the large number of plants already known that migrated from 
our latitudes after the Eocene, and are now found established in Western Asia 
and Central America. Though fragmentary, most of them are new, and, being 
omitted in our Monograph, deserve to be recorded. 
Report of the Committee, consistiny of Messrs. R. B. GRANTHAM, 
C. E. De Rance, J. B. RepMan, W. TopLey, W. WHITAKER, 
and J. W. Woopatu, Major-General Sir A. CLARKE, Sir J. N. 
Doue.ass, Captain Sir F. O. Evans, Admiral Sir E. OMMANNEY, 
Captain J. Parsons, Professor J. PREsTwicH, Captain W. J. L. 
WuartTon, Messrs. E. Easton, J. S. VALENTINE and L. F. 
Vernon Harcourt, appointed for the purpose of inquiring 
into the Rate of Erosion of the Sea-coasts of England and Wales, 
and the Influence of the Artificial Abstraction of Shingle or 
other Material in that Action (C. E. De Rance and W. Top.ey, 
Secretaries ; the Report edited by W. TopLey.) | 
[PLATE IV.] 
Tue importance of the subject referred to this Committee for investi 
gation is universally admitted, and the urgent need for inquiry is apparent 
to all who have any acquaintance with the changes which are in progress 
around our coasts, The subject is a large one, and can only be success 
fully attacked by many observers, working with a common purpose and 
upon some uniform plan. 
In order fully to appreciate the influence, direct or indirect, of human 
agency in modifying the coast-line, it is necessary to be well acquaintec 
with the natural conditions which prevail in the places referred to. The 
main features as regards most of the east and south-east coasts of England 
