Notices of Memoirs — Dr. R. Hiclis — Cae Gwyn Cave. 471 



a prolongation of the same series. It is characterized especially 

 by rather dark-coloured mica-schists, often calcareous, sometimes 

 passing into fine-grained crystalline limestones, with occasional 

 intercalated chloritic schists, especially in the lowest part, and 

 with (rarely) quartz schists. 



(4.) The Carboniferous and Secondary strata infolded or overlying 

 in the Western Alps section, and the Palasozoic (? Silurian) and. 

 Secondary strata succeeding the metamorpliic rocks in the Eastern 

 Alps, are comparatively little altered, and are each readily to be 

 distinguished from the above. 



(5.) The succession of strata in the third group is inexplicable, 

 unless it be due to stratification; in the second this explanation 

 appears highly probable, and in the first not more difficult than any 

 other. 



(6.) As groups of rocks with marked lithological characters occur 

 in like succession over a mountain chain measuring above 400 miles 

 along the curve, and sometimes at distances of 40 miles across it; 

 as these groups correspond with rocks recognized as Archaean else- 

 where, which exhibit like characters and sometimes a like order of 

 succession, the author thinks a classification of the Archcean rocks 

 by their lithological characters (using the phrase in a wide sense), 

 may ultimately prove to be possible. 



(7.) The views already expressed by the author as to the distinct- 

 ness of cleavage- foliation and stratification-foliation have been fully 

 confirmed by the examination of the above districts. He believes 

 that the failure to recognize this distinction is the cause of the 

 contradictory statements with regard to the relation of foliation and 

 bedding which have been made by so many excellent observers, and 

 lies at the root of much of the confusion which exists on the subject 

 of the so-called metamorphic rocks. 



lY. — Second Eepokt of the Committee, consisting of Professor 

 T. McK. Hughes, Dr. H. Hicks, Dr. H. Woodward, and 

 Messrs. E. B. Luxmoore, P. P, Pennant, Edwin Morgan, and 

 G. H. Morton, Appointed for the purpose of Exploring the 

 Cae Gwyn Cave, North Wales. Drawn up by Dr. H. Hicks, 

 Secretary. 



THE main object that the Committee had in view this year was to 

 extend the excavation which had been made in front of the 

 new entrance to the cavern, discovered last year, so that a clear 

 section of the deposits which covered that entrance might be exposed. 

 Work was commenced on June 6, and continued to the 18th, 

 when it was decided that sufficient excavation had been made, and 

 work was for the time suspended. It was deemed advisable to 

 postpone the shoring up of the sides and any filling in that may be 

 required until August, so that an opportunity may be given to 

 any one interested in the exploration to examine the section exposed. 

 The excavation was visited daily by some members of the Committee, 

 and all, excepting Dr. H. Woodward, were able to be present on. 



