530 REPORT — 1882. 



quartz pebbles, but the occurrence of Greensand chert and ragnfone does not 

 appear to liave been yet noticed by any writer on the subject. As this constitutes 

 a very essential point in the consideration of the origin of the drift and other ques- 

 tions, the author wishes to draw attention to its constant presence in all the flint 

 gravels from tlie coast to the extreme northern boundary of the tertiary basin, 

 not only in the low-levels and valleys, but also in the higher level gravels of the 

 highest hills, of chert and ragstone which so fai' from being rare are often present 

 in the remarkably large proportion of 5 to 10 per cent. 



3. The drift at Freshwater Gate has been divided into lower and upper flint 

 gravel and overlying brick eartli ; the upper gravel with elephant remains, and the 

 brick earth with pupa and snccinea. Tlie author considers, however, that the drift 

 constitutes only one mass irregularly bedded and irregularly intercalating ; that 

 it is in fact a series of lenticular and thinning-out masses rather than regular beds. 

 In this respect as well as in its organic remains it resembles the drift and rubble 

 bed overlying the Eaised Beaches of Brighton, Sandgate, Portland, and tlie coast 

 l3eyond,with which, therefore, the author correlates it. The author further shows 

 that, as suggested by Mr. Codrington on other grounds, the land at the back of 

 the Isle of Wight has been much encroaclied on by the sea, and he argues from the 

 presence of chert from the Greensands, and of ironstone fragments apparently 

 from the Wealden, that the valley at Freshwater Gate extended some distance 

 further south and ended in hills, now removed, of Wealden and Greensand strata. 



2. 'Noies on the Bure Valley Beds and the Westleton Beds. 

 By Horace B. Woodward, F.G.8. 



After referring to two papers read before the British Association at York in 

 1881 b}^ Prof Prestwich, the author stated bis reasons for concluding that the 

 pebble-gravels of the Bure Valley witli Tellinn Balthica (the Bure Valley Beds 

 proper) were distinct from the shingle at Westleton (the Westleton Beds proper). 

 In company with 3Ir. .T. H. Blake, lie had (in 1876) traced the latter beds from 

 Westleton to Dunwicli f Uifi", where they occurred in the upper part of the so-called 

 ' Middle Glacial ' beds of Messrs. Wood and Ilarmer. These Westleton Beds, con- 

 sisting largely of flint-shingle, have been traced from Westleton and Southwold to 

 Ilalesworth and Haddiscoe. In the neighbourhood of Haddiscoe and Loddon, the 

 author had found evidence to show that this shingle occurred above the Lower 

 Glacial brick-earth (Contorted Drift), and hence that the Westleton Beds could 

 not be of the age of the Bure Valley Beds, which occurred beneath this brick-earth, 

 and (in his opinion) formed tlie upper poi'tion of the Norwich Crag Series. For the 

 same reason, the Mundesley Beds, whicli occurred beneath the Lower Glacial Drift 

 on the Norfollv coast, could not be of the age of the Westleton Beds. Nor were 

 the Mundesley and Bure Valle}' Beds of the same age. The former include the Leda 

 myalis Bed of Mr. (J. lieid, which occurs at the top of the Forest Bed Series ; the 

 latter are equivalent to the "\^'^eybourn Crag which occurs at the base of the Forest 

 Bed Series. Hence the Bure Valley Beds were part of the Norwich Crag Series, 

 and of Pliocene age ; the Mundesley Beds belonged to the debateable group of ' Pre- 

 Glacial ' Beds ; while the Westleton Beds were of Glacial age. 



3. On the Sources of the Salt Siq^ply of India. 

 By Professor V. Ball, M.A., F.E.S., F.G.8. 



Although the general economic importance of the salt trade of India is widely 

 recognised, the nett annual revenue derived from the salt tax amounting to 

 7,000,000/., still the actual nature of the varied sources which contribute to the 

 supply are perhaps not so well understood as might be expected. 



These sources may most conveniently be ranged under the following head- 

 ings :— 



I. Imports. — Chiefly from the United Kingdom, but also from Arabia. Total 

 per annum 300,000 tons. 



