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TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 79 
On the recent Discovery of Diamonds in the Cape Colony. 
By Professor Tennant, F.GLS. 
This gem, the author stated, had been found somewhat abundantly recently in 
the above district ; and he exhibited the casts of some weighing nine carats, worth 
500/, Some agate, chalcedony, and other precious stones found in the same de- 
osit had been sent him, but he would have preferred some of the sand and mud 
in which they were deposited. One diamond, found very recently, weighed as 
much as fifteen and a half carats. The author was of opinion that before long we 
should have a large collection of diamonds from the above country, adding that, 
although we had heard a great deal of diamonds being found in Australia, those 
stones were not worth now so many pence as pounds had been asked for them. 
Notes on certain Reptilian Remains found in the Carboniferous Strata of Lanark- 
shire. By Jamrs Tuomson (Glasgow). 
The attention that has been given recently to the Reptiles of the coal-period, 
makes the discovery of new forms or more perfect specimens of the utmost impor- 
tance, as it will tend to throw light on species established hitherto on imperfect 
materials, more especially since the description of Anthracosaurus Russelli by Prof. 
Hursley in the Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, vol. xix. p. 56. 
The specimens which the author exhibited to the Section were found a few days 
before the meeting at Quarter, parish of Hamilton, Lanarkshire. They occur in 
the parting between a bed of ironstone-shale and coal. The ironstone varies in 
thickness from 1 to 14 inches, and overlies the coal, which is from 5 to 15 
inches thick. The specimens are found lying on the surface of the coal, and 
invested by the superincumbent ironstone. 
The whole of the remains retain their original structure, some specimens having 
their original form, while in others this has been somewhat affected by the pressure 
of the superimposed beds. The largest and most important specimen is the greater 
part of a skull of Anthracosmuus, measuring 10 inches long by 8 inches wide 
posteriorly; opposite the yomerine tusks it is 4 inches wide. The under side is 
turned upwards, exposing the stumps of forty broken teeth around its contour, 
On the same slab, and partly resting on the posterior portion of the skull, there is 
an under jaw, with the anterior face thrown backwards, and which probably belongs 
to the same reptile. Also another upper jaw, which was found in the same locality, 
measuring 123 inches long by 4 inches wide at the widest part, with 7 perfect teeth, 
and the stumps of 18 exposed; a slab of ironstone with three ribs, and a vertebra 
greatly flattened, showing the neural canal &c. ; while on detached pieces of coal 
are numerous bones and scutes. Also the anterior portion of two jaws of the so- 
called Rhizodus lanceiformis (?); the one is 94 inches long by 2 inches wide, with 
8 perfect teeth, and the stumps of 7 exposed; the other is 7? inches long by 2 inches 
wide, and exposing 9 teeth, 5 of which are perfect, while the other 4 are partially 
broken. There is another reptilian jaw, the specific name of which the author 
was not acquainted with. 
In the same parting there occurs, in remarkable abundance, specimens of the 
Gyracanthus, both lateral and dorsal spines, bones, and scales of various forms of 
fishes; such as Megalichthys, Strepsodus, Pleurodus, Ctenacanthus major, C. minor, 
Pleuracanthus, Gyracanthus, Ctenodus, and preserved in the same condition as those 
of the Reptiles. 
Of Rhizodus lanceiformis (?) the author had discovered remains at Braehead, 
Renfrewshire ; the beds in which they are found are at the base of our Scottish 
coal-measures in this part of Scotland, thus showing that this form had existed 
pra the long period of time necessary for the deposition of upwards of 600 fathoms 
of strata. 
The bed of ironstone referred to is of limited extent, and belongs to the upper 
members of the Scottish coal-measures; and at Quarter is 40 fathoms below the 
surface, and is the equivalent of the better known Airdrie black-band ironstone. 
It is a small basin, and situated on the south side of the River Avon, on the banks 
of which the ironstone crops out, while at its southern extremity it is thrown to 
