Reports & Proceedings — Liverpool Geological Society. 557 



that it must in places be very thick — probably several thousands of 

 feet. Boring had been thought of, but would be impracticable 

 because of tlie movement of the mass at differential rates, so that the 

 borehole could not be kept plumb or open. There were some new 

 instruments, however, invented for marine purposes, which might 

 eventually yield positive information. 



The banding of the ice was not due to dirt or dust, which was 

 practically absent in the Antarctic, but to differences of structure 

 and density, marking the seasons. 



The rugged surfaces of the islets are probably tlue to frost- 

 splintering and marine action, and do not imply that they have 

 suffered no ice-erosion. 



The drift deposits are scanty, because there is so little flat land 

 exposed on which they could accumulate. Eut the sea-bottom 

 carries a great accumulation of clay with boulders for a long distance 

 northwards from the present ice-front. 



The Secretaries of the Society are desirous of completing a record 

 of the services rendered, by the Fellows in connexion with the 

 present War. Details of service, with a statement of rank, regiment, 

 military lionours, and any other information, will be gladly received 

 from Fellows, either with reference to themselves or to those known 

 to them. 



II. Liverpool Geological Society. 



Novemler 12, 1918.— J. H. Milton, F.G.S., F.L.S., Ex-President, 



in the Chair. 



The following paper was read : — 



" Notes on Pebbles in their Geological Associations." Bv William 

 Hewitt, B.Sc. 



The paper gave the results of a comprehensive study of the 

 physical characters of pebbles and their production, and embodied 

 a large amount of statistical and other information relative to their 

 sizes and shapes, the transporting poAver and velocity of streams, and 

 the varying conditions under which pebbly deposits have been 

 accumulated. The more important conglomerates of the geological 

 series were also briefly considered. llecent observations by 

 Mr. Hewitt as to the number and size of the pebbles (from about 

 one-tenth of an inch long and upwards) in the Bunter Pebble Beds 

 in four different localities in the Liverpool district, where the pebbles 

 are most conspicuous, gave the following result : — 



Total Total No. of Longest diameter, 



surface. pebbles. Up to 1". 1-2". 2-3". Over 3". 



Vertical sections . 32 sq. feet 723 676 36 10 1 



Horizontal sections . 22g ,, 1,012 974 36 1 1 



The greater number of pebbles shown in the horizontal sections 

 confirms previous observations as to the occurrence of pebbles mainly 

 at distinct horizons ; in some cases they constitute small gravel 

 pockets. The majority of the pebbles were under half an inch in 

 their longest diameter, the largest one seen was 6 inches long. An 



