ON THE ERRATIC BLOCKS OF ENGLAND, WALES, AND IRELAND. 135 



green fluorescence ; in this respect it closely resembles cevadine, which 

 only differs in giving somewhat clearer tints, a crimson-magenta coloured 

 fluid of a peculiarly beautiful and permanent shade being developed on 

 absorption of a trace of moisture ; veratrine (of Couerbe) gives precisely 

 the same colours as cevadine, but the dark red solution formed before the 

 crimson tint is developed by absorption of moisture does not exhibit any 

 fluorescence. Veratralbine is not saponifiable, and is not sternutatory. 



Seventh Report of the Committee, consisting of Professor Prestwich, 

 Professor Hughes, Professor W. Boyd Dawkins, Professor L. C. 

 Miall, Eev. H. W. Crosskey, Messrs. W. Pengelly, W. Moly- 

 neux, D. Mackintosh, E. H. Tiddeman, J. E. Lee, and J. Plant, 

 and Dr. Deane, 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 ivith the same, and 

 taking measures for their preservation. Drawn up by the Rev. 

 H. W. Crosskey, Secretary. 



During the past year several contributions of interest and importance 

 have been received respecting the position and distribution of Erratic 

 Blocks. 



Mr. Townshend M. Hall, E.G.S., reports the finding of a boulder (May 

 1879) in cutting a drain in the village of Bickington, parish of Frem- 

 ington, beneath the turnpike-road leading from Barnstaple to Bideford, 

 at a point two miles W. by S. of Barnstaple. Its dimensions are 3 X 2'5 X 2 

 feet. It is rounded and smooth on the sides and under surfaces. The 

 upper face is rough, having apparently been broken away in making the 

 road. It is doubtful whether there are any ruts, groovings, or striations, 

 the under surface having been only felt and not seen. It is composed of 

 fine-grained granite, and there is no similar rock nearer than Lundy 

 Island, 25 miles W.N.W. from the boulder, and Dartmoor, 25 miles S. 

 by E. Its height above the sea is about 80 feet. It is not indicated on 

 any map. The larger portion still lies buried under the road, one end 

 having been broken away to make room for the drain. It is situated in 

 a bed of high-level gravels, with red sand and clay, resting upon car- 

 boniferous grits and shales. 



The occurrence of this boulder (Mr. Hall remarks) is of special im- 

 portance in connection with the still larger one at Santon (described in 

 the first Report of this Committee, British Association Reports, 1873, 

 p. 193), from which it is distant 6^ miles S.E. by E. 



The Bickington drain was cut in places to a depth of 1\ feet without 

 reaching the bottom of the gravel bed. Amongst the larger pebbles 

 associated with it, two of similar granite were found, well smoothed, and 

 measuring 7x5 inches. 



Worcestershire. — Erratic blocks have been found at remarkably high 

 levels for the Midland district, of 750 feet, upon Frankley Hill. The 

 writer of this Report examined them in company with Professor Bonney 

 and Mr. W. Matthews. 



