44 Reports and Proceedings. 



The following paper, by Mr. Taylor, was then read : — '' On a Dis- 

 turbance of the Chalk at Swainsthorpe." The singular contortion 

 ef the Chalk at "Whitlingham has obtained some attention, in relation 

 to its connection with the general upheaval of the Norfolk Cretaceous 

 strata. I have now the pleasure to notice a similar occurrence, to 

 be seen in a Chalk-quarry at Swainsthorpe. The pit in question can 

 be easily seen from the high road. It is not so lai'ge as the Chalk- 

 pit at AVliitlingham, where the contortions are seen. I have made 

 rough sections of the right and left sides of the pit, the middle being 

 covered up by a recent land-slip. On the left side the flint bands 

 are nearly perpendicular, being somewhat contorted and leaning 

 towards the right. On the right side the bands are perhaps more 

 perpendicular still, but lean towards the left. The contorted bands, 

 indeed, are but the flanks of an anticlinal arch, the summit of which 

 has been denuded. The upper part is covered by a seam of gravel 

 rubble, not more than four feet in thickness. The principal fossils 

 are Spantcmgi and Tepebratula. The flint bands are shattered and 

 broken as though by the influence of some sudden force. The pit 

 occurs at the foot of a gently-rising ground, and has evidently been 

 deserted for some time. The Chalk is harder than at 'Whitluigham, 

 although occupying nearly the same position geologically. No 

 other pits are to be found in the neighbourhood. I have confined 

 myself simply to calling the attention of the society to this additional 

 example of disturbance, in the hope that its announcement in the 

 public papers may lead to the discovery of others. — Norwich Mercury, 

 December 9th, 1865. 



Bristol Naturalists' Society — Oeological Section. — I. The 

 last excursion of this Society, took place on the 29th September, 

 when several members visited a portion of the North Somerset 

 Eailway, at Whitchurch. - 



The President, Mr. W. Sanders, F.K.S., pointed out the junction 

 of the Coal Measures with the New Eed Sandstone, and the junction 

 of the latter with the Lias, which is here well exposed, and yielded 

 numerous characteristic fossils. 



II. — At the evening meeting, October 26th, Mr. "VV. Sanders, 

 F.K.S., President, in the Chair, Mr. A. Leipner read a communica- 

 tion from Mr. Spencer Gr. Perceval, upon two species of Devonian 

 Corals, viz. : — Cyathophyllum, ccsspitosum, Goldf., and PacTiyphyllum 

 Devoniense, E. and H. From an examination of a large number of 

 specimens, the author concluded that the latter genus was only the 

 astrseiform variety of the former. Mr. Perceval exhibited specimens, 

 showing both the fasciculate and astrseiform characters in the same 

 specimen. 



Mr. W. W. Stoddart, F.Gr.S., described a series of Otoliths (ear- 

 bones) of fishes, from the Tertiary beds of Hampshire, and explained 

 their function, and the exquisite structure of the auditory apparatus, 

 as seen in fishes at the present day. 



III.— November 23rd.— Mr. W. Sanders, F.E.S., the President, 



