58 REPORT— 1867. 



On Calamitece and Fossil Equisetacece. 

 By William Caeetjthers, F.L.S., F.G.S. 



After describing tlie structure of tlie recent EquisetacecE, tlie author gave an 

 account of the internal structure of the various fossil stems which had been refen-ed 

 to this family. True Equisetacece were rare as fossils, and the stems of Calamites 

 were very unlilie anything known among liA'ing acotyledonous plants. The most 

 important characters were obtained by botanists from the fructification. The 

 author had obtained, through the kindness of Br. liooker, sections of vegetable 

 structures prepared by Mr. Biuney, whose extensive acquaintance with coal-plants 

 was weU known. In some of these he had discovered fruits which belonged to 

 Calamites so beautifully presened that the most minute details could be deter- 

 mined, and with the help of his diagrams he described their structure, and illus- 

 trated the various points in which thej^ agreed with, and differed from, the fruits 

 oi Equisetacece. He then described the foliage which had been found connected 

 with Calamites, and which had been named Asteroph/Uites ; and he showed that 

 as similar fruits had been found associated with Annularia and Spheitophj/Uum, 

 which difiered from AsterophyUites only in the amount of cellidar tissue spread out 

 on the veins, there could be no doubt that these also were the foliage of members 

 of this large genus or tribe of plants. 



Notice of an " Esker" at >St. Fort. By Eobeet CaAMBERS, LL.D., F.R.S.E. 



On the Geoloyy of North Formosa. By Dr. Collingavood, M.A., F.L.S. 



The author presented a geological section, made by himself, across the north 

 part of the island of Formosa, from Tam-sug in the west, to Pe-ton Point in the 

 east. The neighbourhood of Tam-sug was remarkable for an abundant collection 

 of angular and rounded boulders, imbedded in a thick deposit of alluvium. 

 Further west calcareous grit prevailed, rising into hills, where the strata cropped 

 out at an angle of 15° to the north-east. Among these hills sulphur springs were 

 found, in which the sulphur issued in a sublimed state with jets of steam from 

 crevices in the rocks. On the north-eastern side of the island lied Sandstone 

 rocks prevailed, having the same inclination, and among them were situated the 

 coal deposits, which rendered Kelung an important harbour. 



On the Geology of the Islands round the North of Formosa. 

 By Dr. Colli:^gwood, 31. A., F.L.S. 



The author described the geological structure of several small islands which he 

 had visited, including the Pescadores (or Ponghou archipelago), which presented 

 some remarkable basaltic formations, resembling in character the Antrim coast. 

 Haitan islands, on the Chinese coast, composed of whinstone trap, granite, and 

 other volcanic rocks ; also two small groups of islands north-cast of Formosa, seldom 

 visited, consisting of Craig, Pinnach, and Agincourt islands, and Hoa-pin-su, 

 Tia-usu, Pinnacle Rock, and Raleigh Rock, respectively. The complicated struc- 

 ture of some of these islands was described by the aid of diagi-ams. 



Notes on the relation of the Glacial Shell Beds of the Carse of Goivrie to those 

 of the }Vcsi of Scotland. By the Rev. W. H. Ceossket. 



On the Calamine Dejposits of Sardinia. 

 By F. GoEDOx Davis, Minimj Engineer, 



The deposits of calamine are invariably situated in Silurian limestone, on or 

 near the summit of a mountain, and often forming the saddle between two high 

 peaks. The direction they take (with only two exceptions) is north and south, 

 parallel to the strike of the limestone, and connected with north and south lead 

 lodes, though not often actually in their run. The deposits varv from fi^o to 

 twenty-five fathoms in width, and fifty to eighty fathoms in length : sometimes 

 several deposits are situated in n line, and thus form runs of ore ground 250 to -000 



