122 BULLETIN OF THE 



Mr. O. T. Mason inquired whether the occurrences of charcoal 

 were frequent and bore evidence of human agency. 



Mr. Todd replied that charcoal was often met with, and sug- 

 gested as a possible, though not probable, explanation, that the 

 fragments may have come from some of the recent volcanic regions 

 of the west. 



Mr. C. E. Dutton suggested that there would be little difficulty 

 in finding a natural cause for the occurrence of charcoal, if the 

 surface had been above water at the time it was deposited. There 

 can be little doubt that fires are frequently started in the woods 

 and on the plains of the west by lightning, and it is not at all in- 

 credible that they may sometimes arise from spontaneous ignition. 

 Many of the frequent fires in the western mountains occur under 

 circumstances which render it incredible that human agency was 

 involved. 



Mr. C. A. White spoke of the great areas over which loess de- 

 posits are found. They occur not only in the upper Mississippi 

 valley, but also in the regions of the lower Mississippi. They also 

 occupy a great range of altitudes, some being only a few hundred 

 feet above the level of the sea, others several thousand feet above 

 it. They all seem to be of similar character and constitution. The 

 absence of any barriers is one powerful argument against the exis- 

 tence of a lake, and the great changes of level which would be 

 demanded to establish this hypothesis is another. 



The next communication was read by Mr. C. E. Dutton, on 



THE VERMILION CLIFFS AND VALLEY OF THE VIRGEN, 

 IN SOUTHERN UTAH. 



The paper was reserved by the author. 

 At its conclusion the Society adjourned. 



195th Meeting. March 5th, 1881. 



Vice-President Taylor in the Chair. 



Twenty-two members present. 



The minutes of the last meeting were read and adopted. 



The Chair announced the election of Mr. Peter Winfield Lauver 

 to membership in the Society. 



