TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION E. 835 



once deeply-seated necks of the old volcanoes, the softer parts having been worn 

 away. 



Caution is necessary in interpreting the apparent dip of strata as a means of 

 determining geological structure ; besides folding and inversions, already referred 

 to, we have to guard against being deceived by cleavage, false-bedding, and the 

 fan-shaped structure of mountain chains. 



_ A knowledge of the geological structure of certain rocks in any one area may 

 mislead when appUed to distant districts. The soft clays, the limestones, and 

 sandstones of the Jurassic rocks of England are represented in the south and east 

 of Europe by thick masses of limestone, forming prominent mountain ranges ; whilst 

 the soft Triassic rocks of England are represented in the Alpine area by huo-e 

 masses of limestone and dolomite, with intermediate soft bands and with layers ot 

 volcanic rock, ■' 



Even within so small an area as England we have differences in geolo"-icaI 

 coniposition, making differences in physical geography. The high and barren i^oor- 

 lands of north-east Yorkshire and the fertile districts of the Cotteswold Hills are 

 both composed of Lower Oolitic rocks: in the former they are sandstones and 

 shales, in the latter they are in great part soft limestones and clays. 



The nature of the rock determines the character of the soils and veo-etation, 

 the soils being due to the decomposition of the underlying rocks. Th?s is not 

 however, the case where the solid rocks are covered by drift deposits : here the 

 soils are formed by the decomposition of the drifts. 



The sites of early settlements and villages are generally determined by geological 

 surface conditions, water and a dry and fairly fertile soil being required. ' 



The land divisions resulting from these early settlements are in like manner 

 dependent on the physical features, which, however, are not usually the actual 

 boundaries of the parishes, townships, &c. 



_ But where the hills are exceptionally high the summit or the local water part- 

 ing is often the boundary. 



[A discussion followed the reading of these papers, and is printed in full in the 

 Geographical Journal ' for December 1893, pp. 518-534.] 



3. Bejport on Scottish Place Names.— See Reports, p. 554. 



4 Report of the Karahoram Expedition.— See Reports, p. 564. 



5. On the Influence of Land and Water on the Temperature of the Air. 

 By J. T. Bdchanan, F.B.8. 



6. The Temperature and Density of Sea Water letween the Atlantic Ocean 

 and North Sea.^ By H. N. Dickson, F.B.S.E. 



At the instance of the Fishery Board for Scotland the author spent the greater 

 part of August 1893, on H.M.S. 'Jackal,' in investigating the distribution of tem- 

 perature and sahnity on the northern and western borders of the continental shelf, 

 btartmg from a point fifty-four miles due north of the Shetland?, a line of sound- 

 inp was run eastwards for about seventy miles in depths of 100 to 200 fathoms, 

 and this was backed by a return line further south in shallower water. A line 

 was next run from the north of the Shetlands to Sudero, F^ero Islands, tempera- 

 tures being observed at depths down to 416 fathoms in the Fsero Shetland Channel. 

 J^rom l^jBro a hne of soundings was made to latitude 59° 45' N., longitude 5° W 

 whence a due easterly course was made to longitude 1° E. The latter part of the 

 crmse was occupied with a further study of the conditions existing to the east of 



Scotl^d^OT iK ^"^^ ^^ Pubhshed in the Annual Report of the Fishery Board for 



3 H 2 



