420 Geological Society of London. 



10. " On the Sulphur Sprmgs of Northern Formosa." By Cuth- 

 bert Collingwood, M.B., F.L.S. Communicated by the Assistant- 

 Secretary. 



The sulphur springs are situated amongst the hills near Tamsuy, 

 in the north-eastern corner of the Island of Formosa, and indicate 

 the existence of volcanic action near the surface of the region, a 

 phenomenon otherwise afforded by the frequent occurrence there of 

 earthquakes. One spring possessed the character of a mountain 

 torrent, and had a temperature of about 130°. The spot containing 

 most of the springs occupies about two acres of ground, is quite 

 barren of vegetation, and is covered with low hillocks of friable 

 rocks and debris, interspersed with shallow pits containing mud, 

 sand, and sometimes water. From cracks and fissures in these 

 depressions arose clouds of steam ; and around them was strewn a 

 quantity of sublimated sulphur, the yellow colour of which was 

 visible from a distance. 



11. " On the Geology of Benghazi, Barbary ; with an account of 

 the subsidences in its vicinity." By George B. Stacey, Esq. 

 Communicated by the President. 



The town of Benghazi is built on a stratum of clay, which reposes 

 on a sandy foundation. It is partially protected from the action of 

 the sea by a reef of sandstone rocks projecting two or three feet 

 above the w^ater-level. Between the reef and the land the water is 

 now about five feet in depth, while fifty years ago this area was dry 

 land ; remains of buildings are to be seen under the water. The 

 author is therefore of opinion that the land is sinking regularly, and 

 comparatively quickly. The fundamental rock of the country is a 

 Tertiary limestone, and the author has obtained from the neighbour- 

 hood of Benghazi specimens of Corals, Echinoderms, Oysters 

 Pectens, and on the surface Cardium edule. 



12. " Eeport on the Existence of large Coal-fields in the Province 

 of St. Catherine's, Brazil." By Edward Thornton, Esq. Commu- 

 nicated by the Kt. Hon. the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. 



The existence of Coal in this district has for many years been an 

 established fact ; but no practical exploration had been made until 

 the years 1861-63, when Viscount Barbacena, having purchased a 

 tract of land containing the best seams, ascertained the existence of 

 a series of coal-beds at nine diiferent levels, underlying a sandstone 

 formation, horizontally disposed, and varying in thickness from 1-| 

 to 10 feet. Analyses of specimens of the coal prove it to be of good 

 quality, its profitable working depending solely upon the facilities 

 for transport. 



13. "On the Sources of the Materials composing the White 

 Clays of the Lower Tertiaries." By Geo. Maw, Esq., F.G.S., F.L.S. 



In examining some of the light-coloured deposits occurring beneath 

 the Boulder-clay, in pockets in the Carboniferous Limestone, the 

 author was led to the conclusion that some of the beds of very pure 

 white clay could not have been derived from the mere mechanical 

 degradation of any previously existing materials, and analyses by 

 Dr. Voelcker showed that they contained similar proportions of 



