384 :M:iscEXjXi.A.n^:EOTJS. 



Geological Survey of India. — Eetirement of Professor Oldham, 

 C.B., M.A., LL.D., F.K.S., Director of the Geological Survey of India 

 from 1851 to 3 876. — We regret to announce the retirement, caused 

 by ill health, of the Superintendent of the Geological Survey of 

 India. During the quarter of a centuiy that Dr. Oldham has held the 

 appointment, since the Surve}'' was first organized in fact, in 1851, 

 the oj)erations which he so ably guided have done nearly all that 

 has been solidly effected towards the development of our Geological 

 knowledge of the East Indies and Burmah ; and the progress of the 

 department has been well marked by the issue of the numerous pub- 

 lications — including the splendid Palasontologia Indica — a list of 

 which has doubtless been often observed among our fly-sheets, and 

 the parts of which have formed the subject of numerous Notices 

 and Eeviews. 



Other geological work has been done, but of course the Survey 

 results have been the largest as well as the most important, and inde- 

 j)endent observers have not sought the assistance of its chief in vain. 



Having just completed the transfer of the very extensive collections, 

 the library, etc., from the former Indian Geological Survey OfiSce to 

 its new quarters in the large Imperial Museum of Calcutta, he was 

 obliged, from the recurrence of an attack which brought him home 

 on sick leave within the last two years, to forego further labours in 

 the East, leaving behind a staff of colleagues who have seen their 

 long official connexion with him dissolved under these circumstances, 

 with regret. The Indian Government has selected as his successor 

 Mr. H. B. Medlicott, not much his junior in the service ; nnder 

 whose highly competent and energetic direction we may look for 

 continued successful progress in the great work which the Survey 

 has in hand. 



Mr. K. B. Foot fills the vacancy in the upper grade caused by Mr. 

 Mediicott's promotion. 



Many friends will we know unite with us in trusting that Dr, 

 Oldham may soon be restored to health, and long enjoy the rest which 

 he has so amply and honourably earned. 



Glacial Deposits at York. — Mr. J. Edmund Clark, 20, Bootham, 

 York, writes us enclosing a series of photographs of sections of 

 the Glacial drift exposed during recent excavations at the Eailway 

 works, York. Nos. 1 and 7 are particularly striking and full of 

 interest. They are all good as photographs, but need a diagram or 

 colours to explain the remarkable way in which some of the beds 

 are folded and contorted. Mr. Clark writes : — " Mr. Monkhouse, 

 Lendall, York, has photographed for me eight of the sections dis- 

 played at the Kailway works in beds of glacial drift. They are 

 cabinet- size, and clear ; height of sections 3ft. to 8ft. 

 No. 1-4. Sand bed, inclined, contorted, with intercalated clays. Large scratched 

 boulder in situ^ in No. 1. 



„ 5. Central sand bed, as anticlinal, against which lean 1-4 on E. and 6 on W. 



,, 6. Beds of sand, boulders, and pebbles, in layers to W. of 5. 



,, 7. Angular mass of sand, among boulders and pebbles. 



„ 8. Pebble heap, assorted by current; false bedding." 



