Notes and Comments. 379 
TOADS EMBEDDED IN ROCKS. 
The question of toads being found alive in cavities in rocks 
was formerly, as now, a frequent theme for discussion. The 
Geological Society Club, founded in 1824, conducted its 
researches somewhat after the following manner :— 
November toth, 1824.—Mr. Lyell having stated that an experiment had 
been instituted of enclosing toads in sev eral cavities in rock in the month of 
September last, with the view of opening the cavities in a succession of 
years, one in each succeeding year: 
The President (Buckland) beis Mr. Warburton two bottles of champagne 
to one that at the end of one year from the time of closing one toad will be 
found alive. 
Mr. Warburton also bets the President a bottle of champagne that no 
toad will be found alive at the end of the second year. 
Mr. Taylor bets Mr. Stokes a bottle of champagne that at the end of one 
year one of the toads will be found alive ; also another bottle that one will 
be found alive at the end of two years ; aad another bottle that one will be 
found alive at the end of three years. 
December 2nd, 1825.—Mr. Lyell stated that the cavities enclosing the 
toads had been opened on November 15, 1825, and that two toads in them 
had been found alive. 
Resolved that the bets between Dr. Buckland and Mr. Warburton and 
Mr. Taylor and Mr. Stokes, referring to the period of one year, are decided 
by this evidence to be lost by Mr. Warburton and Mr. Stokes respectively, 
one bottle of champagne each. 
DE SLEISESTERSHIRE COALEIELD:* 
Mr. C. Fox-Strangways in 1893 commenced a re-survey of 
the ‘ Leicestershire Coalfield,’ by which is usually meant the joint 
coalfields of Leicestershire and South Derbyshire. The survey 
was completed in 1898; maps and explanatory memoirs were 
issued in 1899 and 1905. A memoir dealing with the coalfield 
generally, prepared by Mr. Fox-Strangways, has now been 
published. Besides an interesting introductory chapter, this 
contains an account of the History of the Development of the 
Coalfield; Pre-Cambrian Rocks; Carboniferous Limestones and 
Shales ; Millstone Grit, Coal-Measures, etc. ; Physical History ; 
Extension of the Coalfield beyond Present Workings; and 
Economic Geology. There is also a chapter on the Palzeontology 
of the Coalfied, by Mr. A. R. Horwood. There are three useful 
appendices, (1) Glossary of Technical Terms ; (2) Bibliography ; 
and (3) Pit-sections, bore-holes, etc., the last of which occupies 
more than half the volume. Like all Mr. Fox-Strangways’ 
work, this memoir is a thorough and conscientious production, 
and for a Government publication it is cheap, fairly well printed 
and bound, though the illustrations are poor, as usual in these 
Memoirs. And where else, but in a Government publication, 
* Memoirs of the Geological Survey : The Geology of the Leicestershire 
and South Derbyshire Coalfield, by C. Fox-Strangways, 1907. E. Stanford, 
373 pp., plates. Price 6/- 
1907 November Ti: 
