814 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE. 
comparison of these two levels determines those characters of each gens 
which are indicative of old age ; whereas the comparison of the brachiopods 
(or of the corals) at one and the same level determines those characters 
which are affected by convergence. 
Mr. Dixon’s careful study of the conditions of deposition which are 
implied by the several lithic types, increases very greatly the value of the 
zonal investigation by preventing the error of mistaking a change of fauna 
with change of conditions for a true zonal sequence dependent upon 
evolution. 
IIl.—The Carboniferous Sequence from Rush to Skerries, Co. Dublin. 
(In conjunction with Dr. C. A. Marury.) 
The stratigraphical relations have been admirably worked out by 
Dr. Matley, in spite of a quite remarkable intricacy of tectonic detail. 
From a zonal point of view the main subject of inquiry is the true 
relative position of four distinct series whose sequence with one another is 
broken either by faults or gaps. The problem has been solved by a broad 
comparison of the coral faunas and their sequence in the several portions 
of the Trish section with the known coral sequence in the South-western 
Province. The relative position of the several portions has thus been 
established, and it has consequently become possible to draw up a detailed 
faunal sequence for the whole section. This sequence starts in the upper 
Tournaisian, and extends beyond the uppermost Avonian, being, however, 
notably incomplete in its middle portion. 
The highest beds, which still exhibit an abundant Avonian fauna, (the 
Upper Cyathawonia beds) include a maximum of Posidonomya Becheri, 
and at the same time contain several strikingly specialised forms of corals 
and brachiopods which also occur inthe Lower Limestones of Scotland 
and in the uppermost Limestones of the western Midlands and Settle. 
Much light has thus been thrown upon the true correlation of the upper- 
most Avonian rocks in widely distant areas. 
These results will be published at an early date. 
ITI.—Paleontological Work. 
The paleontological work arising out of these two papers has been 
very considerable, and is as yet incomplete. 
Minute study of the material collected, and comparison with that 
already gathered from the South-western Province and other British 
localities, has shown the necessity of a reinvestigation of the value of 
the characters upon which certain genera have been founded—e.g., the 
presence of a septum in Orthotetids, the existence of original fringes in 
Athyrids, the septation of Zaphrentids, «ec. 
T am also engaged upon the study of the types of Carboniferous 
Brachiopods preserved in the British Museum, and in this task Mr, 8S. S. 
Buckman has very kindly placed his long experience at my service. 
T have also to acknowledge the great help which I have received from 
Mr. R. G. Carruthers in studying the Zaphrentids, and from many fellow- 
geologists who have sent me material for examination, and thus allowed 
me to keep in touch with the progress of research outside the areas in 
which I have myself worked. 
So much remains to be done that I feel justified in asking for the 
continuance of this Committee for yet another year, 
