368 Reports and Proceedings. 



Eecent. Soils on the highlands, including regur or cotton-soil, simi- 

 lar to that found in India, and alluvial deposits on the coast. 2. The 

 volcanic series which skirts both coasts in the southern portion of 

 the Eed Sea. This, which was poorly developed on the west coast 

 of Annesley Bay, it was proposed to designate the Aden volcanic 

 series. 3. The great trappean formations of the Abyssinian high- 

 lands, consisting of two groups unconformable to each other, (1) the 

 Magdala group, consisting of trachytes and dolerites, and (2) the 

 Ashangi group, entirely composed of dolerites, both of great thick- 

 ness and formed of bedded volcanic rocks, lavas, and ashes. 4. The 

 Antalo limestone of Oolitic age, containing Ceromya similis, Trigonia 

 costata, and other characteristic forms. 5. Adegrat sandstone, a 

 massive formation occupying a considerable area in northern Tigre, 

 and perhaps representing the coal-bearing rocks known to exist 

 north-west of Lake Dembea, but unfossiliferous. 6. Metamorphics 

 of varying mineral character, having a general north and south strike, 

 due to pre-existent cleavage. Some brief remarks on denudation, 

 etc., followed. 



Discussion. — Mr. Etheridge remarked on the similarity of the Oolitic specimens 

 to those from the Cotteswold Hills, and also to those from the Holy Land. Similar 

 fossils also occurred in the far east, and even in Australia. 



The President remarked that this range was not greater than that of some recent 

 species ; and in answer to his enquiry, 



Mr. Blanford stated that there were no marks of glaciation discernihle in Abys- 

 sinia, the excavation of the valleys being apparently due to the excessive rainfall. 



5. " On the Gri-aphite of the Laurentian of Canada." By Prof. 

 J. W. Dawson, LL.D., F.E.S., F.G.S. 



The author described the modes of occurrence of great quantities 

 of graphite in the Laurentian limestones of Canada. He regarded 

 the presence and characters of this mineral as indicative of the ex- 

 istence of plants, side by side with Eozoon, at the period of the depo- 

 sition of these limestones. 



Discussion. — Prof. Brayley enquired whether there was any proof that the sub- 

 stance called graphite might not be anthracite. He did not himself know of any 

 instance of the passage of one of those substances into the other, and regarded 

 graphite as of chemical origin, and not as directly derived from vegetable matter. 



Mr. Mallet did not think that it was possible for any organic forms to remain in a 

 substance so purely crystalline as typical graphite. The presence of organic remains 

 was an argument in favour of the masses mentioned in the paper being lustrous 

 anthracite rather than graphite. 



6. " On the Correlation, Nature, and Origin of the Drifts of North- 

 west Lancashire and part of Cumberland." By D. Mackintosh, Esq., 

 F.G.S. 



In this paper the author stated the results of observations made 

 last December, January, and February, during prolonged visits to 

 Blackpool, Ulverstone, and Lancaster. At Blackpool repeated exa- 

 minations of the drifts, as exposed on the tidal zone and in the cliffs, 

 convinced him that there is a distinct triplex series — a hard, very 

 stony lower bouider-clay, a middle sand and gravel, and a less stony 

 upper boulder-clay and marl. At Blackpool the author likewise 

 found a newer deposit of warp-clay (or Scotch slutsh) interstratified 

 with and overlaid by peat and sand. On the Furness side of More- 



