Reports cfc Proceedings — Liverpool Geological Society. 281 



structures. Historical survey of the distiict from the Devonian 

 Period to the present time. 



1th April, 1922. 



" Some British Fossil Pigs and their bearing upon the Pleistocene 

 problem." By Martin A. C. Hinton. 



The paper describes fossil pigs from the Red Crag, Forest Bed 

 Series, High Terrace and Middle Terrace drifts of the Thames. 

 Certain of the species recognized are new and some seem to have 

 an important bearing upon the Pleistocene j^roblem in Britain. 



Liverpool Geological Society, 



Uth Fehruanj, 192?.— Professor P. G. H. Boswell, O.B.E., D.Sc, 

 F.G.S., President, in the chair. 



The following paper was read : " Bacteri;i from the Geological 

 Aspect." By R. G. Wills, M.A., M.B. (Cantab). 



A general description of bacteria was first given, followed by an account 

 of their physiology in its bearing on geology. Reference was made 

 to sulphur bacteria, the formation of hydrated silicates of aluminium 

 by bacterial agency, as well as the precipitation of calcium carbonate. 

 The iron bacteria were then considered in detail, and various deposits 

 due to their agency described, some local examples being cited. 

 They belong to a group of organisms known as the higher bacteria 

 or Trichomycetes, which perhaps stand in an intermediate position 

 between true bacteria and the higher fungi. The remains of iron 

 bacteria have been found in bog iron ores of recent date, but up to 

 the present no structures recognizable as their fossil remains have 

 been found in earlier rocks. Concerning records of fossil bacteria 

 generally, a fair case for their existence has been made out by workers 

 in this field. The late Bernard Renault in 1896 and 1900 described 

 bacteria in Permo-Carboniferous coprolitcs and coals, in 1915 

 Charles D. Walcott described a " micrococcus " from the Algonkian 

 Limestone of Montana, and Dr. David Ellis a bacillus and micro- 

 coccus from Cretaceous rocks. 



Royal Geological Society op Cornwall. 

 Annual Meeting. 2Sth March, 1922. 



The following papers v/ere read :— 



Presidential Address. By R. A. Thomas, M.I.M.M. 



In which he advocated a thorough investigation of the granite 

 as being most likely to lead to the successful determination of tin 

 and copper-bearing areas. 



" The Microscopic Characters of Cassiterite." By J. M. 

 Coon. 



In which he gave a detailed account of the optical characters 



