SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS .—C. 311 
two genera and a number of species belonging to the Anthracomarti. ‘These 
are grouped into a new family, Palzocharinide, and comprise Pal@o- 
charinoides hornei Hirst, Paleocharinus scourfieldi Hirst, P. rhyniensis Hirst, 
P. calmani Hirst, P. kidstoni Hirst, and a dozen other forms not specifically 
named. A supposed Eurypterid, Heterocrania rhyniensis Hirst and Maulik, 
is represented by fragmentary remains, and was apparently of very small 
size. The class Insecta is definitely represented by forms of Collembola, 
named Rhyniella precursor by Hirst and Maulik, who have also figured the 
jaws of another insect in the larval form, which Tillyard has named Rhynio- 
gnatha hirsti. 
Dr. B. H. Knicut.—The economic uses of some Aberdeen granites (11.30). 
These granites are widely used in building and in road-making, and the 
paper describes a recent application of the Rosiwal method of mineralogical 
analysis whereby the suitability or otherwise of any particular type for such 
uses can be determined. The acid plutonic igneous rocks are shown to 
possess certain structural and textural features which materially affect this 
question, one of the most important of which is the prevalence of fissuring, 
usually only discernible by microscopic means, but clearly visible by stain- 
ing methods, which is peculiar to this class of rocks only. A colorimetric 
test applicable to the class has been worked out, and the method of measuring 
the amount of fissuring present is described. Possible explanations as to 
the cause of the fissuring are discussed, comparisons between the amount 
of fissuring present in the commoner Aberdeen granites and those from other 
localities are made, and the paper concludes with a short appendix describing 
the method of impregnation and staining of the specimens and slides. 
Prof. W. N. Benson.—The Ordovician rocks of New Zealand (12.0). 
Fossiliferous Ordovician argillite associated with greywacke and quartzite 
occur in the north-western and south-western extremities of the South 
Island. Field studies by several workers, and palzontological investiga- 
tions, chiefly by Keble, have resulted in the quadrupling during the last 
decade of the list of known fossils (now over 130 species), and of distinct 
faunal associations. ‘The development of graptolites is similar to that in 
Victoria.. In the Lower Ordovician rocks have been found in regular 
stratigraphic succession eight faunal associations comparable with those 
occurring within the Lancefieldian, Bendigonian and Castlemainian Series 
of Victoria, which Dr. Elles considers the equivalent of the Dichograptus 
and D. extensus zones of the Skiddaw Slates. The higher Ordovician beds, 
among which is some limestone, are approximately equivalent to the Gis- 
bornian Series of Victoria, or the Llandeilian of Britain. 'There is a richly 
fossiliferous lower assemblage, and two scanty higher assemblages. A 
Protospongia, a few phyllocarids and brachiopods described by Chapman, 
and two trilobites described by Reed, mostly of Lower Ordovician age, 
complete the known fauna. The passage from the normal sediments into 
crystalline schists has been traced in petrographic detail. 
Prof. W. N. Benson.—The Devonian period in Australia (12.30). 
The paper briefly summarises the character and distribution of the various 
formations of this age throughout Australia, indicating their paleaogeographic 
significance. 
AFTERNOON. 
Excursion to Bay of Nigg, Cove Quarry, Bothiebriggs, Cammachmore, 
Shielhill, Tarbothill and Blackdog. Leader: Dr. A. BREMNER. 
