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GEOLOGY AT THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 



There were many papers read in Section C (Geolog-y) at the Soiithport 

 Meeting- of the British Association of interest to readers of ' The Naturalist.' 

 The presidential address of Prof. W. W. Watts was entitled, 'The Functions 

 of Geolog'y in Education and in Practical Life.' Prot. Watts considers that 

 the time has come when geolog'ists should make a firm and consistent 

 stand for the teachingf of their science in schools, technical colleg-es, and 

 universities. 



Mr. G. W. Lampluufh described the recent discover}- of ' Land-shells in 

 the Infra-glacial Chalk-rubble at Sewerby, near Bridling-ton.' The shells 

 belong- mainly, if not entirel}-, to Pupa imisconiiit , and occur about eig-ht 

 feet deep in the landwash which lies upon the buried sea-beach and is 

 covered by the gflacial drift. 



Mr. J. Lomas g-ave a description of the ' Geolog'\- of the Country around 

 Southport,' in which he particularly referred to the Keuper Marls and the 

 g-lacial beds, and also to the post-glacial features around Southport. 



'Martin Mere' was the title of a communication made by Mr. Harold 

 Brodrick, in which he gave a summary of his remarks in the ' Handbook to 

 Southport.' 



' The Fossil Flora of the Ardwick Series of Manchester' was described 

 bv Mr. E. A. Newell Arber. He pointed out that the Binney collection and 

 other fossil plants from the Ardwick Series had recently been re-examined, 

 and further identifications had been made. The flora is found to belong to 

 a palseobotanical horizon known as the L'pper Transition Series, which is 

 antecedent to the true L'pper Coal-Measures. 



Among-st the Committees of the Association much work is being- accom- 

 plished. The fourteenth report of the Geological Photogfraphs Committee 

 shows that a record number of prints has been received. Among-st these 

 the northern counties are represented as follows : — Cheshire, 23 ; Cumber- 

 land, 4; Derb\-shire, 1; Durham, 19; Lancashire, i; Northumberland, 3; 

 Westmorland, 4, and Yorkshire, 60. Yorkshire, as usual, heads the list, 

 though we fail to find any reference to the Yorkshire Geological Photo- 

 graphs Committee in the report. Special mention is made of the Yorkshire 

 photographs by Mr. Godfrey Bingle}- and Mr. W. Jerome Harrison, and of 

 Dr. Abbot's Durham photographs. 



The report of the Committee for the investigfation of the Flora and 

 Fauna of the Trias was prepared by Mr. J. Lomas. So far the Committee's 

 investigations have been confined to a consideration of the fossil footprints, 

 in connection with which much has already been accomplished. 



Dr. Wheelton Hind, in his report on the Life-Zones in the British 

 Carboniferous rocks, complains of the smallness of the g-rant at his Com- 

 mittee's disposal. Details are g-iven of some boringfs put down between 

 the river Lune and river Balder, tributaries of the Tees. 



The Committee appointed to make ' Observations on Changes in the 

 Sea Coast of the United King'dom ' has presented a report which is one of 

 the most useful of their valuable reports that has been issued for a long- 

 time. It includes a summary of all previous reports, dealing- with the 

 whole of the coastline of our islands. This enormous work was undertaken 

 b}- Mr. John Parkinson, of Cambridge, and that portion relating- to the 

 North-east coast of England is particularly interesting-. 



The report of the Erratic Blocks Committee was presented by Mr. P. F. 

 Kendall, the Secretary. It includes a summary of the records fiom all 

 previous reports, which will be most useful to those interested in g;lacial 

 geologv. We hope shortly to print the Yorkshire portion in 'The 

 Naturalist.' The records are given in alphabetical order of localities under 

 heading-s of counties. The Northern Counties are represented by the 

 following- numbers: — Northumberland, 4 localities; Durham, 16; Cumber- 

 land, 3; Westmoreland, 25; Lancashire, 45; Yorkshire, 275; Cheshire, 54; 

 Derbyshire, 8. 



Particulars of the work of the Committee appointed to inxestigate the 

 deposit at Kirmington will be found on another page, 



1903 November 1. 



