418 Geological Society of London. 



relation of JJ. priscus, Goldf., to Z7. ferox." By George Busk, Esq., 

 F.K.S., F.G.S. 



After noticing the difficulties which attend the study of the bones 

 of the skeleton generally in Fossil Bears, and the somewhat con- 

 fused and contradictory opinions as to the distinction of species 

 which have arisen in consequence, Mr. Busk stated that his object 

 in the present communication was merely to call attention to some 

 points in the dentition which seemed to afford more certain and 

 more readily ascertainable characters than could at present be drawn 

 from the boues, and which, at any rate in the absence of other 

 evidence, were a sufficiently sure guide in the distinction of species. 



The characters derived from the teeth depend 



1. On their dimensions, absolute and relative. 



2. On their form. 



It is not necessary, however, to consider all the teeth. The 

 canines vary too much even within the limits of one species to be of 

 much utility ; and, with certain exceptions, the differences exhibited 

 in the molars are not sufficiently marked to allow of their being 

 employed. 



The teeth upon which reliance is to be placed are the upper and 

 lower fourth premolars, and the last molar in each jaw ; and the dis- 

 tinctive characters of these teeth in U. spelcBus, U. priscus, JJ.ferox, 

 and TJ. arctos were pointed out. 



It was also endeavoured to be shown that in the size, proportions, 

 and form of the teeth, no essential differences could be perceived 

 between U. priscus and Z7. ferox; and the opinion was expressed 

 that so far as cranial and dental characters are concerned, those two 

 species are at present indistinguishable. 



6. " On the Geology of the province of Canterbury, New Zea- 

 land." By Julius Haast, M.D., F.E.S., F.G.S. Communicated by 

 Sir E. I. Murchison, Bart., K.C.B., F.R.S., F.G.S. 



The Southern Alps in the Province of Canterbury were stated to 

 form the eastern wing of a huge anticlinal of granites ; on the 

 western base of this central chain younger granites of secondary 

 age support semimetamorphoric strata. The eastern side of the arch 

 consists of a succession of huge folds of dioritic sandstones, clay- 

 slates, and breccias, overlain by either Upper Devonian or Lower 

 Carboniferous strata. 



The Southern Alps are bounded on the eastern side by a belt of 

 old Tertiary quartzose trachytes and pearlstones, on which repose 

 extensive agglomeratic and tufaceous deposits, — clays, sands, and 

 lio-nite bands ; these are succeeded by thick-bedded calcareo-arena- 

 ceous strata ; the whole broken through by Dolerites, which in their 

 turn are covered by sand, clays, and thin limestones, probably of 

 Pliocene age. 



The author concluded by describing the Post-pliocene moraine- 

 accumulations which are found on both sides of the Southern Alps. 



7. " On the Chemical Geology of the Malvern Hills." By the 

 Eev. J. H. Timins, M.A., F.G.S. 



From a detailed examination and analysis of the rocks composing 



