108 REPORT— 1861. 



founders when we first met together at York, we owe through him a deep debt of 

 gi-atitude to Manchester ; for Dalton was one of the few eminent men who at our 

 buih stood sponsor for our future career, and who supported us at many a subse- 

 quent Meeting. 



In oiu- present visit we are most happy to see placed at our head one of the 

 scientific men of Manchester, who exhibits in his own person the cheering example 

 of the gi-eat success which can be attained by the steady and judicious application 

 of science to the improvement of our manufactures. And if England is to hold her 

 ovra lofty position in gi-eat measure tkrough the superior strength of the metal 

 derived from inexhaustible masses of ii-on-ore which occm- in many of her geolooical 

 formations, we cannot but regard William Fairbaim as the individual, who, united 

 at first with the lamented Eaton Hodgkinson, through a long series of ingenioas 

 experiments, as detailed in the volumes of this Association, not only laid the basis 

 for the erection of the Menai Bridge and such tubular constructions, but who is 

 now directing the manufactiu'e of those iron plates which may best resist the most 

 powerful artillery, whether in casing our ships or in strengthening our fortresses. 



_ I need not re-afBmi that all the men of science who have flocked hither from 

 distant places rejoice with his townsmen in serving imder such a man. 



Lastly let me say, that we of the Geological Section, who are gathered together 

 from remote parts, have solid gi-oxmds for satisfaction in being greeted here by so 

 many good and active brother workmen of the Geological Society of Manchester, 

 whohave done such honour to their to^vn, not only by the establishment of a rich 

 and instructive Museum, in which many of the subjects we are met to discuss are 

 thoroughly illustrated, but who have also, by their publications, contributed much to 

 advance our science. 



Pakeontohgical RemarJcs upon the Silurian Bods of Ireland. 

 ByW.K.BAiLY,F.G.8. 

 In this paper the author noticed the occurrence of Llandeilo flags in the county of 

 Meath, containing the characteristic Graptolite, Bidymograpsm Mtirchismii, and 

 then proceeded to give a general review ol the localities in Ireland from which fos- 

 sils were obtained, as affording satisfactoiy evidence of the various subdivisions of 

 the Silurian rocks at present ascertained in that country. 



RemarTcs on ilie Bone-caves of Craven. By T. "W. Baeeow. 



The author said that the specimens before the Meeting were found mainly in 

 Victoria and Doukerbottom Caves, near Settle, Yorkshire. These caverns are" but 

 two of a great number which occur in the mountain limestone, and more especially 

 m the Lower Scar limestone of Phillips. They are of various kinds— diy, wet, from 

 a few yards in length to a mile, merely passages, or scooped out into great cham- 

 bers. Doukerbottom consists of two chambers with veiy long passages between 

 them. Victoiia Cave, which was discovered bv Mi-. Jackson of Settle, has in it 

 iour large chambers close to each other, and before the flooring of clay was washed 

 in, probably forming one rfgantic apartment. 



The general section of the caves is :— First, from a foot to 18 inches of soU, in which 

 are the bones of recent and historic animals. Second, about 6 inches of the ancient 

 floonngof the cave when it was inhabited by man: in this were fomid all the 

 antiquities which were discovered, and the bones of animals simUar to those last 

 mentioned. Third, dense stifiP clay of veiy gi-eat thickness, in which no antiquities 

 and scarcely any bones were found. Fourth, the original rocky floor of the cave, 

 ^r^r^^ S^ y.\ "^®^® ^^"^^^ differing in colour, lightness, &c. from the others. 

 Ihe antiquities found m the second stratum were flint-implements, adze-head of 

 stone, sbng stones 5 of bone— arrowheads, combs and pins; shells and wolf's teeth 

 pierced for a necklace. These were evidences that an imcivilized race had occupied 

 the cave ; but besides these were fibulse, annlets and lings of bronze and iron, and 

 corns of Roman emperors, from Nero to Constantine. The bones found were of 

 recent and histonc animals, such as the wild boar and the wolf; but with these 

 were others of prehistoric animals, the cave-tiger and the cave-hyeena, found side 

 by side with the antiquities ; and it has been argued that they are therefore con- 



