330 Reports and Proceedings — Geological Society of London. 



After noticing the special characteristics of the Mediterranean, he 

 infers that submergence and emergence on the Bay of Baiae would 

 follow equivalent alteration in the level of the Atlantic waters, such 

 as would be probably developed by changed conditions of astrono- 

 mical forces ; and after discussing the possible dates and periods of 

 the changes at Pozzuoli, makes the suggestion that within a period 

 of two thousand years alterations may have taken place in the 

 astronomical combinations, out of which a change in the surface- 

 level of the oceans generally may have become developed, and 

 wherefrom consequently a synchronous change in the Mediterranean 

 would also occur, and observes that the amount of actual tidal effects 

 has never been ascertained. 



2. "North-Italian Bryozoa." By A. W. Waters, Esq., F.G.S. 

 The Chilostomatous Bryozoa dealt with in the paper are, for the 



most part, from known Vicentine localities, together with some from 

 two new localities, — Monte Baldo in the Veronese and Ronzo in the 

 Tyrol. Reuss described a number from the Vicentine, but at a time 

 when the chief attention was given to the shape of the zoarium, and 

 the oral aperture, avicularia, and ovicells did not receive the attention 

 now given to them. The attempt is therefore made to bring our 

 knowledge of these beds, which are the richest and most important 

 known in the Lower Tertiaries, more nearly up to present ideas, so 

 that more exact comparisons may be made between Tertiary and 

 living forms. 



Several cases are mentioned in which there is great difference of 

 zoarial shape, and also some in which there is great range in the 

 zooecial characters. 



The discovery of Catenicella in these beds is of considerable 

 importance, which is enhanced by one of the species having both 

 short beads and longer internodes. 



Porina coronata and Lepralia syringopora both have a closure, 

 formed by a plate with a tubule in the centre, a structure supposed 

 to be exclusively characteristic of the Cyclostomata. 



The position of the beds has been established by Suess, Bayan, 

 Hebert, and Munier-Chalmas, of Bartonian age, and may therefore 

 be called Upper Eocene. 



3. " Notes on the Discovery, Mode of Occurrence, and Dis- 

 tribution of the Nickel-Iron Alloy ' Awaruite ' and the Rocks of the 

 District on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand in 

 which it is found." By Professor G. H. F. Ulrich, F.G.S. 



In an introduction the author describes the original discovery, 

 determination, and naming of the mineral in 1885 by Mr. W. Skey, 

 and clears up a misunderstanding by which he himself had been 

 credited with the discovery ; he furthermore gives a historical sketch 

 of the further investigations and publications x-eferring to the mineral. 



The geology of the Awaruite-bearing district is described. The 

 rocks consist of peridotites and serpentines, breaking through meta- 

 morphic schists with occasional massive intrusions of acid rock. 

 The petrographical characters of the peridotites of the hill-complex, 

 including the Olivine and Red-Hill ranges, and serpentines, are con- 



