TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 81 



some huge Batracliian allied to the Labj'rinthodon. A few years ago Professor 

 Huxley saw the boues, aud remarked that Mr. Stutchbury's determination could 

 not possibly be correct. 



Subsequently I took them to Oxford, so that they might be examined by my 

 late estimable friend Professor Phillips. He immediately brought into comparison 

 with the large bone the femiu' of a Bleyalosannts. It was observed that the femur, 

 as well as the bone in question, was covered with minute longitudinal indentations ; 

 also that these changed their course on approaching the process of the lesser 

 trochanter. Now on the large bone there was a slight protuberance, and the longi- 

 tudinal markings changed their direction on approaching it. If, then, this small 

 protuberance were the remains of a larger one constituting a lesser trochanter, the 

 resemblance between the bone in question and the femur of the Megalosaums would 

 become Aery insignificant. The great difierence would consist in their relative 

 dimensions, the circumference of the femur being about 13 inches, while that of the 

 bone is about 17 inches. 



Now it might be supposed that I should venture on the conjectm-e that we have 

 before us the remains of a very large species of Megalosannts ; but I refrain from 

 this because there is a striking difference in one respect between the two limbs that 

 have been thus compared. Phillips says " the femur is, or appears to be, internally 

 hollow." It will be seen that the Rhfetic bones are, on the contrary, solicl 

 throughout. 



I do not Imow of any other definite character requiring notice. My object is to 

 draw attention to these remark.able remains, so that if any explorer of Rhsetic 

 strata should find in any other locality large bones of mysterious character, he 

 may remember these, and bring his discovery into comparison with the bones 

 of the Bristol Museum. 



On Auriferous Limestone at Walton. 

 By W. W. Stoddakt, F.C.S., F.G.S., 4-c. 



jMr. Stoddart described the unusual occun-ence of the presence of gold and silver 

 which Mr. Pass and he had discovered in a sample of Carboniferous Limestone 

 taken from a quaiTV in the neighbourhood of Clevedon. The limestone contains 

 more than 94 per cent, of carbonate of lime, and is sufficiently pure to be used in 

 the manufacture of glass, the principal impurity being oxide of iron. The author 

 remarked the absence of sulphur and silica which so often accompany gold deposits, 

 but which in the present case were absent. The analysis of the dried limestone 

 gave the following : — 



Aluminium -8777 



Ferric oxide 4-8000 



Calcic carbonate 94-3000 



Silica -0200 



Silver -0023 



Gold a trace 



1000000 



In order to coiToborate the results of the analyses which they had made, samples 

 were sent to Mr. J. P. Merry, a well-known assayer at Swansea, who completely 

 verified the fact of there being gold and silver present in the limestone. Although 

 the quantity of these metals is exceedingly small, yet the fact of their occurrence 

 in carboniferous limestone at all is exceedingly interesting and unusual. The 

 amount of silver present in the limestone varies in dift'erent samples, one sample 

 containing 94 grains per ton, while another contains nearly an oimce. The quantity 

 of gold present varies from 3 to 5 grains per ton. The limestone is granular, and, 

 when magnified, shows a great number of specks of oxide of iron ; the presence of 

 pyrites was carefully looked for, but none could be detected. It is very difficult to 

 account for the origin of these metals; in the part of the quarry from which the 

 samples were taken the limestone appeared much weathered, and darker in colour 



