80 Reports and Proceedings. 



rests the surface-soil, which is the mere rainwash of the neighbour- 

 hood. These three deposits indicate three epochs : first, that of the 

 brick-earths, in which the water was unencountered by floating ice ; 

 then that of the trail, which is probably a mere icewash formed 

 under a glacial climate ; and lastly, the rainwash, formed under 

 temperate conditions. The date of the excavation of the Thames 

 Valley being uncertain, and also the fact of the boulder-clay earth 

 having extended into it being non-proven, it is possible that the 

 trail, or icewash, may be the subaerial equivalent of the boulder- 

 clay, and that consequently the brick-earths may be pre-glacial. The 

 palseontological evidence is also very important in deciding their age. 

 The presence of Elephas priscus and Bhinoceros megarMniis indicates 

 the aflfinity of this group of deposits to those of pre-glacial age on 

 the Norfolk shore, and to the foreign pliocenes. The tichorhine 

 and leptorhine rhinoceros, on the other hand, point towards deposits 

 of clearly defined post-glacial age. The beds under consideration 

 are also as remarkable for the absence of some as for the presence 

 of others of the pleistocene mammals. The pre-glacial trogonthere, 

 Bhinoceros etruscus, Elephas meridionalis, Sorex moschatus, and Cervus 

 dicranios are absent on the one hand, the entire group of post-glacial 

 arctic mammalia on the other; and especially among these latter 

 the reindeer. From these premises, it follows that the beds in 

 question, as affording remains in part peculiar to the forest-bed 

 of Norfolk and the pliocenes of France and Italy, and in part to 

 the post-glacial deposits, occupy a middle point in time between 

 the two, being more modem than the former and more ancient 

 than the latter. For these reasons the author suggests the insertion 

 of the group of deposits in the classified list of pleistocene deposits 

 as follows: (1) Forest-bed of Norfolk — climate temperate; (2) 

 Lower Brick-earths of the Thames Valley — climate temperate ; (3) 

 Glacial deposit — climate severe ; Postglacial deposits — climate severe, 

 but gradually becoming temperate. 



The Geological Society of Glasgow opened its session on the 

 20th October, and the Edinburgh Geological Society on the 31st 

 October. Both societies commenced their sessions with an address 

 on " Scottish Geology, its Proofs and Problems," by David Page, 

 Esq., F.E.S.E., F.G.S., President of the latter society. 



In this address Mr. Page pointed out the most important facts 

 arrived at in Scottish geology. Passing in review the various 

 stratified systems, from the Laurentian up to the most modern and 

 superficial deposits, and after briefly indicating what had actually 

 been accomplished, he directed the attention of members to the yet 

 unsolved geological problems around them deserving their study. 



There is no fear that these societies will die out for want of a 

 sumptuous bill of geological fare to attract them, and when the long 

 summer days and fine weather come round, many of Mr. Page's 

 disciples will be found hammering away at these knotty problems 

 with a right good will. 



