66 REFOKT 1875. 



resembles H. verus, but differs m the arms being short, wide, and flat, and in the 

 rays being 40. 



The author then showed that Phillips's generic description of Gilhertsocrinns was 

 inaccurate in the shape of the scapulas and first intercostal ; but he argued that tlie 

 genus should not be confounded with Rhodocriniis, as had been done of late years, 

 being clearly distinguished by the form of the brachials and by the presence of 

 orifices opening into the perforations in the arms. He suggested that these openings 

 are not ovarian, but for the purpose of admitting water into the interior. 



Gilhertsocrinns may be defined thus : — 



Basals 5 ; subradials 5 ; radials 3 ; brachials several, irregular ; the second 

 brachial channelled at top, and leading into an orifice which communicates with 

 the perforation in the arms : axillary plates well developed ; arms round, and gene- 

 rally set at right angles to the body ; body-plates generally tuberculate. 



A new species of Gilbertsocrimis from Lancashire was described, G. Konincld 

 (GrenfeU). It is distinguished from aU except G. simplex (Portlock) by five 

 prominent tubercles round the base. Fr<im that species it diflfers in shape and 

 size, in the narrowness of the subradials, and tlie presence of tubercles on the body- 

 plates. 



On the Influx and Stranding of Icebergs during tlie so-called Glacial Epoch, 

 and a suggestion of the possible cause of the Oscillation of the Level of Land 

 and Water to ivhich that Influx may be due. By John GuNif. 



The author repeated his previously propounded views, that an influx of icebergs 

 was due to the increased area and depth of the sea in the northern hemisphere, by 

 which the perpetual snow-line was altered, and consequently masses of ice and 

 glaciers were disengaged and set floating southward. 



When the sea was of suflicient depth the icebergs would float over the land, and 

 their passage would be marked by boulders let fall, as was the case in the Chalk, iu 

 which they are occasionally found imbedded ; but when the sea was shallow they 

 would be stranded, and the eQects described by Mr. Gunn would be produced, as in 

 Ireland and the east of England. 



These phenomena were, he represented, distinct from glaciers formed on moun- 

 tainous districts, as in Wales and the north of England, whicli would be indicative 

 of cold ; whereas the increased area of the sea would indicate a milder climate, 

 except so far as it would be aflected by the influx of ice. 



Mr. Gunn conjectured that as no adequate cause had' been assigned for tlie 

 alternate increase of water iu the two hemisplieres, it might possibly be due to the 

 motion of the solar system in space, which Sir John Herschel had treated as a 

 useless speculation, but to whicli Otto Struve and other astronomers had directed 

 their attention, and had endeavoured to demonstrate the velocity and direction 

 of. They had not, however, at present been able to ascertain whether the sun 

 with its cortege of planets revolved around any and what centre. 



Here, therefore, was an tmknown quantity ; and since all other movements are 

 inadequate to produce aU the required results, he ventured to hint that they might 

 be due to this. He referred to the possibility that the tides might be aflected by 

 the relative position of the sun to the earth, which might undergo a change diudng 

 the enormous extent of the revolution of the solar sj'stem. At any rate it appeared 

 to him that no positive conclusion could be arrived at until this was settled. 



On the Occurrence of lihcetic.BccIs near Leicester. 

 By William J. Haebison^. 



The Spinney Hills are a low range forming the eastern boundary of the t<iwn of 

 Leicester and of the Soar valley. They are composed of red and blue Keuper 

 marls containing selenite, salt-crystals, and a massive nodular band of gypsum. 



At the northern extremity the range is capped by tlie lihiBtic beds, wliich are 

 cut off from the Lias on the east by the valley of a little stream, the Willo brook. 

 A- .vertical section of from SO to 40 feet is obtained in brick-pits, whilst a boring of 



