Geological Society of London. 133 



The author regarded a large cone as that of a true Pinus, and 

 branches of another coniferous tree as belonging to a Sequoia nearly- 

 allied to S. Sternbergi, Heer ; of this a small imbricated cone might 

 possibly be the fruit. Other fragments of Coniferse seem to belong 

 to Cupressites or Taxites. The fossils consist chiefly of leaves of 

 true Dicotyledonous plants. The author identified some of these 

 with species of Khamnites, Olea, Fagus, and Quercus. Leaves of 

 endogenous plants, such as Sedges and Grasses, occur not unfre- 

 quently. A large mass of fossil wood of dicotyledonous structure 

 was obtained from the haematitio conglomerate. Carpolithes are 

 also found. The vegetable remains are accompanied by a few 

 elytra of Beetles. 



The author remarked that these remains seem to differ as a group 

 from those of the Island of Mull. Their alliance appears to be with 

 Mid-European forms, and they are certainly of Upper Tertiary age, 

 probably Miocene. 



Discussion. — Mr. Carruthers observed on the difficulty of determining species, or 

 even genera, satisfactorily, from such fragmentary evidence as that adduced by Mr. 

 Baily. He considered that the small cone did not belong to Sequoia, inasmuch as the 

 cone of Sequoia was not composed of imbricated, but of adnate, peltate scales. The 

 wood was not only dicotyledonous, but coniferous. 



Mr. David Forbes remarked that the existence of this leaf-bed might be regarded 

 as affording grounds for belief in the non-igneous origin of basalt. He had, how- 

 ever, made experiments as to the non-conducting-power of clay, and had found that 

 even half an inch of clay was sufficient to protect vegetable forms from destruction by 

 the heat of a mass of slag allowed to flow over them. In the same manner he had 

 found the forms of trees still preserved under the lava of Vesuvius. 



Mr. R. H. Scott called attention to the work of Dr. Heer on the specimens 

 brought home from Greenland by Dr. "Whymper, among which he had recognised 

 the fruits of various plants which had already been identified by him from the 

 leaves. The connexion between these beds and those of Bovey Tracey, Disco Bay, 

 and other Miocene deposits throughout Europe was now proved ; and the recent 

 importations by the Swedish Polar Expedition would throw further light on the 

 subject. No doubt further discoveries would also be made of a similar character in 

 the North of Ireland. He pointed out the similarity between the Irish section and 

 those of Greenland, where vegetable remains were also found interstratified with 

 basalt. 



3. " Remarks upon the Basalt Dykes of the Mainland of India, 

 opposite to the Islands of Bombay and Salsette." By G. T. Clark, 

 Esq., P.G.S. 



The author described the general features of the country referred 

 to, and stated that the dykes which traverse it vary from 1 or 2 to 

 100 or 150 feet in width, and often extend many miles. They are 

 all basaltic, with a tendency to prismatic structure, but never co- 

 lumnar. The adjacent Trap is but little modified, only somewhat 

 hardened, so as to resist weathering; by this means long, narrow 

 ridges, more or less deeply furrowed above by the weathering of the 

 basalt dyke itself, are produced. The general direction of the dykes 

 is parallel to the lines of volcanic vents ; those near the main axis of 

 the Concan lying N. and S., and those near the subordinate axis in 

 the Malseji valley, about E.N.E. and W.S.W. They run nearly 

 straight, and have their faces usually parallel, but sometimes swell 

 out or contract, or include a rider. The author considered that these 

 dykes were formed probably during the latest periods of volcanic 



