192 Miscellaneous. 



laminae, or masses of alternately fine and coarse detritus in an irre- 

 gular and complicated order of succession ? To what extent does 

 moving or floating coast-ice smooth and striate rock-surfaces, or give 

 rise to roclies moutonnees ? To what extent may moving or floating 

 coast-ice, while grounding, be capable of flattening and smoothing 

 the pebbles fixed in its base ? Can it produce a series of clearly-cut 

 and parallel grooves on the flattened surface? In the marine 

 Boulder-clay of Cheshire there are many pebbles which have been 

 flattened and uniformly striated on two opposite sides. Are there any 

 conditions under which the mode of action of moving or floating 

 coast-ice may be supposed capable of giving rise to such a pheno- 

 menon ? How far, in the Arctic Seas, is the course of surface-currents 

 carrying sea-ice crossed by that of under-currents carrying icebergs ? 

 Do these currents ever flow in diametrically opposite directions ? 

 2, Abbey Court, Chester. D. Mackintosh, F.G.S. 



nVCISCZELIL^lsriEOTTS- 



The Chair of Natural History in the University of St. Andrews 

 has been offered to and accepted by Professor Alleyne Nicholson, of 

 the College of Physical Science, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Dr. Nicholson 

 was in no way a candidate, directly or indirectly, for this appoint- 

 ment ; but in thus offering it to him unsolicited, the Marquess of 

 Ailsa has the cordial approbation of the University authorities, and 

 may be congratulated in securing for the chair, of which he is 

 patron, so distinguished a naturalist and professor, whose experience 

 extends over two continents. — Scotsman, February 22, 1875. 



Sub-aerial Denudation. — In the Registrar - General's annual 

 return for 1872, which was printed March 10th, attention is drawn 

 to the excessive rain-fall. The total fall of rain was enormous, and 

 each of the last three months of the year showed an excess. During 

 the quarter rain had fallen at Greenwich on sixty-seven days, a 

 greater number than had been previously experienced as far back as 

 the year 1815. The total fall in the sixty-seven days amounted to 

 11 "32 inches. It has been shown that an inch deep of rain weighs 

 nearly 101 tons per acre, so that upwards of 1,100 tons of water 

 fell in the last three months of the year on each of the 37,000,000 

 acres of England and Wales ! — Daily News, 11th March, 1875. 



The Lyell Medal and Fund. — Sir Charles Lyell has bequeathed 

 to the Geological Societjr of London the sum of £2000, together with 

 the die of a medal, to be called " the Lyell Medal." Not less than 

 one-third of the annual proceeds of the Fund is to be awarded with 

 the Medal. The Balance to be given in any proportions that the 

 Council may see fit. The recipients may be of either sex, and of 

 any country ; and the award may be made for work done, or to assist 

 in present researches, or for memoirs on Geology and the allied 

 sciences. The bequest and the terms in which it is made are alike 

 worthy of so great a name as that of Lyell. 



