592 
contained in Mr, Greenough’s ‘ Critical Examination of the Principles 
of Geology,’ and which asks the question whether contortions may 
not have taken place where clay alternates with limestone or silex, 
in consequence of an unequal rate of consolidation (p. 77). The 
author also alludes to the theory of Sir James Hall, but chiefly to 
prevent its being ‘“‘ mixed up in any way with the subject of this paper, 
or the inferences it contains?’ and lastly, he wishes it may be clearly 
understood, that. while he advocates the explanation of many geolo- 
gical phenomena by means of pressure from without, he does not 
propose that all geological disturbance should be attributed to it; 
nor does he deny that many, and more especially the most consider- 
able, irregularities in the structure of the earth may and must be 
assigned to other causes. 
«* Notice on the occurrence of Plants in the Plastic Clay of the 
Hampshire Coast,” by the Rev. P. B. Brodie, F.G.8., was then 
read. 
The cliffs to the east Ail west of Bournemouth are composed of 
horizontal strata belonging to the plastic clay formation. Hast of 
the town they consist of white and yellow sands, the former con- 
taining fragments of wood. Further along the shore the cliffs are 
higher, and beds of clay full of vegetable remains appear under 
the sands. About half a mile beyond, a stratum of fine white sand, 
three or four feet thick, situated near the middle of the cliffs, con- 
tains impressions of ferns; and a layer of sand and clay is full of 
small leaves. ‘The subjacent strata of clay are separated by thin 
layers of vegetable matter. Somewhat further, beds of white and 
yellow sand and sandy clay abound with beautiful leaves, and the 
surface of the strata is in some places covered with a thin layer of 
iron-sand containing impressions of ferns. In most cases, the vari- 
ous coloured sands are divided by beds of clay, and their fossil con- 
tents are distributed in layers at rather distant intervals. My. Brodie 
did not discover any shells. Several of the fossil plants are stated 
by the author to belong to the Lauraceze and Amentacez; but he 
says that these, as well as others which he arranges among the 
Characee and Cryptogami, and some of which he has not determined 
the characters, are all generically distinct from any British plant, and 
belong to those of a warmer climate. When the sandstone is freshly 
broken the epidermis of the fossil frequently peels off, leaving the 
impression of only the fibres. These remains often form masses of 
some thickness; and, from their state of preservation, must, ‘he 
author states, have been deposited tranquilly beneath the waters. 
A paper ‘‘ On the Mouths of Ammonites, and on Fossils contained 
in laminated beds of the Oxford Clay, discovered in cutting the Great 
Western Railway, near Christian Malford in Wiltshire.” By J. 
Chaning Pearce, Esq., F.G.S., was lastly read. 
Mr, Pearce commences by stating, that his attention was first di- 
rected to this part of the railway by the impression of a crushed _ | 
Ammonite procured at Cheltenham in April 1841, but that he was 
prevented from examining the locality for three or four months. 
