7G kepoht — 1865. 



On Contortions in the Chalk at Withingham, near Norwich. By J. E. Taylor. 



On the Agates found in England, with specimens from different countries. 

 By Professor Tennant, F.G.S. 



On the Nodules in the Limestone of Wenlock Edge. 

 By the Key. J. D. La Totjche. 



The Wenlock is a well-marked stratum of limestone, of which one of its chief 

 characteristics, wherever the author had an opportunity of observing it, is its tendency 

 to become nodular, but it is near the town of Wenlock that these concretionary 

 masses assume a remarkable importance at intervals along the Wenlock edge ; 

 here, about 700 feet high, buried in the substance of the general stratum, which is 

 some 30 or 40 feet thick, are huge masses of limestone, locally called ball-stones, 

 of a purity very superior to the surrounding rock, so superior that they are exten- 

 sively used as a fluS for iron ore. They appear to consist of greenish-grey veins 

 mixed irregularly with bluish-grey limestone, and fossils are occasionally found in 

 them. They vary in size from a few feet to some 50 feet in thickness, and their 

 length, which is generally at right angles to the line of the ridge, is in some cases 

 more than 100 yards. 



That they have been formed subsequently to the deposition of the rest of the 

 stratum seems to be proved, by the arching over them to a slight extent of the rock 

 above, and in one instance a similar appearance had been observed in that which is 

 below them. The rest of the surrounding stratum seems to be continued into their 

 substance, in which but very slight traces of stratification are observable. That 

 they have been formed subsequently even to the upheaval of the whole neighbour- 

 hood and its denudation seems probable from the fact that there is no indication 

 of their existence on the surface of the Wenlock Edge, which there would be had 

 they been submitted to the same denuding forces as have acted on the surrounding 

 rocks, from which they differ greatly in hardness and composition. 



On the Faults in the South Staffordshire Coal Field, and their relation to the 

 Igneous Boils of the District. By C. Twamley. 



A few Notes on the Structure of the Matterhorn. By Edward Whympeh. 



When one observes the great peak of the Matterhorn at a short distance, it is 

 seen that its rocks are separated into three great divisions, of which the middle 

 mass is the largest, and grey in colour, while the upper and lower sections are ap- 

 parently of a didl red. On ascending the mountain, these divisions are clearly 

 apparent, and the junctions of the sections are so marked, that it is almost possible 

 to see the lines of separation. The rocks of the upper and lower divisions, however, 

 it is found, are by no means uniformly red in colour, but are interspersed with 

 others of a green and of an iron grey. It is from the red rocks being so much more 

 positive in tone that they present a uniform tint when seen at a distance. 



The specimens collected comprise fragments from each of these divisions. Those 

 taken from the highest of the three divisions and from the summit (nuca-slate, 

 chlorite-slate, and quartz) were detached when collected, but the others were 

 broken from the living rock. The middle and largest division is found to be com- 

 posed chiefly of chlorite-slate ; mica-slate, with seams of quartz coloured by oxide 

 of iron, is found to predominate in the lowest division. Serpentine can be fre- 

 quently found at the base of the mountain, but I have not observed it on the peak 

 itself. The summit of the Matterhorn is a roughly level ridge of 350 feet to 400 

 feet in length. It is extremely precipitous on the south side; but on the side 

 which descends towards the glacier of Zmutt the inclination is moderate, and it can 

 be traversed with great facility. There are several little points on this ridge, and 

 the highest of them is usually covered by a small cone of snow. The whole of the 

 summit is covered with disintegrated fragments, and the living rock is not any- 

 where visible. 



It was observed by De Saussure that the beds of the Matterhorn rise towards 



