204 REPORT— 1881. 



In conclusion I mnsfc remark that had I not, previously to the time 

 at which I received the grant of the British Association, been engaged 

 in recording earthquakes, and spent much time in experimenting with 

 various instruments, testing each with a long series of actual earth- 

 quakes (see ' Transactions of the Seismological Society of Japan '), 

 I should not have been in the position to carry out the work which has 

 here been referred to. 



As I have established a small earthquake observatory, and have by 

 several years' experience determined upon instruments which appear to 

 me to be best suited for some of the more important seismological 

 investigations, have obtained and taught observers at various stations, 

 and, lastly, have received the co-operation of several friends — one of whom, 

 Mr. W. H. Talbot, has also established a special observatory — I sincerely 

 hope that the British Association will see fit to extend its previous grant 

 for the working out of seismic problems in a district which, amongst 

 all others, is one of the very best for carrying on such observations. 



Ninth Report of the Conionittee, consisting of Professor Prestwich, 

 Professor T. McK. Hughes, Pl-ofessor W. Boyd Dawkins, Professor 

 T. Gr. BoNNEY, Rev. H. W. Crosskey, Dr. Deane, and Messrs. C. 

 E. De Range, D. Mackintosh, R. H. Tiddeman, J. E. Lee, J. Plant, 

 W. Pengelly, W. Molyneux, H. Gr. FoRDHAM, and W. Terrill, 

 appointed for the purpose of recording the position, height above 

 the sea, lithological characters, size, and origin of the Erratic 

 Blocks of England, Wales, and Ireland, reporting other matters 

 of interest connected with the same, and taking measures for 

 their preservation. Draivn up by the Rev. H. W. Crosskey, 

 Secretary. 



During the past year this Committee has pursued the researches entrusted 

 to it ; and is able to record the following additional instances of the 

 occurrence of Erratic Blocks. 



Cumberland. — Mr. T. A. Colfox furnishes the Committee with the 

 following particulars respecting granite and sandstone boulders found 

 while excavating for the new docks at Maryport, parish of Dearham, 

 Cumberland. 



The granite boulders vary in size from small pebbles to a ton or 

 thereabouts in weight. 



Those of the New Red Sandstone, which occur at a lower level, vary 

 from half a ton to two tons or more. 



The granite boulders are rounded ; those from the New Red Sandstone 

 have sharp angles. No ruts, groovings, or other marks are visible. 



The nearest granite occurs in the Kirkcudbrightshire hills on the 

 other side of the Solway, 15 or 20 miles distant, nearly due north ; the 

 New Red Sandstone is the stone of the district. 



The granite specimens are numerous, but only four or five of the New 

 Red Sandstone ones have been found. The former were resting on the 

 top of a bed of sandy clay, underlying the sand and shingle of the fore- 

 shore, at a depth of 10 to 15 feet below the surface; the latter occur in 



