Notes and Comments, 83 
origin, and there is a continuity from Lower to Upper Trias, 
with an unconformity due to the new mode of formation and 
change in sedimentation. Oscillation and overlapping are 
admittedly due to aqueous agency. The Triassic-outcrop and 
the delta-area of the river Mississippi are closely similar. 
Colouration is original, from below upwards, and not co- 
incident with bedding. The thickness of the Bunter is an 
argument for a subsiding area. The ferruginous types in the 
Carboniferous, Permian, and Trias are alike due to delta con- 
ditions. The Trias is horizontal now, as originally, away from 
any ancient hills which it covers. It is only the skerries that 
are rippled. Screes occur mainly to the south-west of sub- 
merged hills. Sandstones thin out eastward, marls westward, 
and the skerries are on the hills. Rock-salt and gypsum are 
also horizontal and continuous in a linear direction. The 
Keuper gradually merges into the Rhetic phase, and the latter 
into the Lias. Since the Bunter sediments came from the 
north-west into the Midlands, so probably did the upper 
Trias. Local metamorphic and volcanic rocks may have pro- 
vided some of the heavier minerals, but, as a whole, their 
source was more distant. The flora and fauna can be grouped 
in provinces around the delta-head of the Trias. These 
considerations point to an aqueous mode of sedimentation in 
a moist and equable climate. 
“SEA MILLS.’ 
Museum curators are proverbially peculiar people, and now 
and then startle the world by some great deed. Some, we 
know, are like volcanoes, and break forth into fiery activity 
without any warning, and as quickly subside. Some, however 
seem to plod away and do their work without the aid of fire- 
works. The latest surprise comes from a modest and unassuming 
contributor, whose researches resulted in an article appearing 
in the London Daily News of January 7th, under the head- 
lines ‘Sea Mills:’ ‘ Remarkable Discov ery by Leeds Curator’ ; 
‘New Force in Nature;’ ‘ Marine Boring Machines at Work.’ 
From this we learn that the curator ‘ has just discovered what 
may prove to be in effect a new force in Nature. Full details 
of the discovery, which is bound to create great interest in 
scientific. circles, are to be given at a special lecture, but its 
importance merits more immediate attention. 
A “NEW FORCE IN NATURE.’ 
It seems that whilst wandering among the rocks in North 
Devon, ‘ he discovered some borings of an unprecedented char- 
acter, in that they were horizontal in direction, and conical in 
form. Resting in the borings were boulders... which the 
tide turned over and over... the whole contributed a pheno- 
menon of nature to which ‘the discoverer proposes to give 
jgi1 Feb. 1 
