188 Reports and Proceedings — Geological Society of London. 



seas. Recent researches had enabled geologists and paleeontolo- 

 gists to take up a far more satisfactory position in regard to the 

 theory of evolution than when Darwin felt constrained to pen 

 the following words, when referring to the imperfection of the 

 geological record ("Origin of Species," p. 310): — "The several 

 difficulties here discussed, namely, our not finding in the suc- 

 cessive formations infinitely numerous transitional links between 

 the many species which now exist or have existed ; the sudden 

 manner in which whole groups of species appear in our European 

 formations ; the almost entire absence, as at present known, 

 of fossiliferous formations beneath the Silurian strata, are all 

 undoubtedly of the gravest nature. We see this in the plainest 

 manner by the fact that all the most eminent palceontologists, 

 namely, Cuvier, Owen, Agassiz, Barrande, Falconer, E. Forbes, etc., 

 and all our greatest geologists, as Lyell, Murchison, Sedgwick, etc., 

 have unanimously, often vehemently, maintained the immutability 

 of species." 



The ballot for the Council and officers was taken, and the following were declared 

 duly elected for the ensuing year : — Council : H. Bauerman, Esq. ; W. T. Blanford, 

 LL.D., F.E.S.; Prof. T. G. Bonney, D.Sc, LL.D., F.R.S. ; Prof. W. Boyd Dawkins, 

 M.A., F.R.S. ; Sir John Evans, K.C.B., D.C.L., LL.D., F.E.S. ; F.W. Harmer, 

 Esq.; E. S. Herries, Esq., M.A.; Henry Hicks, M.D., F.R.S.; Rev. Edwin Hill, 

 M.A. ; Prof. E. Hull, M.A., LL.D., F R.S. ; Prof. J. W. Judd, C.B., LL.D., 

 F.R.S.; R. Lydekker, Esq., B.A., F.R.S.; Lieut. -General C. A. McMahon ; 

 J. E. Marr, Esq., M.A., F.R.S.; Prof. H. A. Miers, M.A., F.R.S.; H. W. 

 Monckton, Esq., F.L.S. ; E. T. Newton, Esq., F.R.S. ; A. Strahan, Esq., M.A. ; 

 J. J. H. Teall, Esq., M.A., F.R.S. ; W. W. Watts, Esq., M.A. ; W. Whitaker, 

 Esq., B.A., F.R.S.; Rev. H. H. Winwood, M.A.; H. Woodward, LL.D., F.R.S. 



Officers: — President: Henry Hicks, M.D., F.R.S. Vice-Presidents: Prof. T. 

 G. Bonney, D.Sc, LL.D., F.R.S. ; Lieut. -General C. A. McMahon; J. J. H. Teall, 

 Esq., M.A., F.R.S.; H. Woodward, LL.D., F.R.S. Secretaries: J. E. Marr, 

 Esq., MA, F.R.S ; R. S. Herries, Esq., M.A. Foreign Secretary: Sir John 

 Evans, K.C.B., D.C.L., LL.D., F.R.S. Treasurers W. T. Blanford, LL.D., F.R.S. 



II.— March 10, 1897.— Dr. Henry Hicks, F.R.S., President, 

 in the Chair. The following communications were read : — 



1. " Volcanic Activity in Central America in relation to British 

 Earthquakes." By A. Gosling, Esq., H.M. Minister and Gonsul- 

 General in Central America. Communicated (through H.M. Foreign 

 Office) by the President. 



The author of the communication points out that the volcano of 

 Izalco, in the Republic of Salvador, which has been in active 

 eruption for over one hundred years, suddenly ceased to be so 

 within a fortnight of the period at which the communication was 

 sent (December 20, 1896), and he notes the occurrence of seven 

 shocks of earthquake in England on December 17, 1896. He quotes 

 remarks concerning the volcano, which were contributed by him to 

 the " North American Review " in January, 1896. 



2. " The Red Rocks near Bonmahon on the Coast of Co. Water- 

 ford." By F. R. C. Reed, E.sq., M.A., F.G.S. 



The rocks which are considered in this paper have been regarded 

 by some authorities as deposits interstratified with the Lowf'r 

 Palgeozoic rocks of the district, while others have maintained that 



