414 Reports and Proceedings — 



" On looking into the matter carefully, it is easy to see, that in its 

 westernmost part the German basin bends slightly to the south, and 

 from what we have said above it is also easy to perceive that the 

 basins of Stalberg and the Worm merely form the southern ridge of 

 the great basin." ..... 



'' According to this view, the Coal-measure zone in question would 

 extend nearly continuously from Eastern Westphalia, or from 

 the sources of the Lippe near Paderborn, to Scotland, about 250 

 leagues. Compared to other neighbouring geological formations, 

 and even to other Coal-bearing deposits, this great exten- 

 sion is not astonishing, since the great Carboniferous horizon 

 of North America is worked over a distance of more than 350 

 leagues from E. to W. ! In other words, this deposit is within 

 reach over nearly that entire distance. With us, or in Europe, the 

 points which are rich and easily worked, such as everything seems 

 to show that the Dutch Limburger one will be, have hitherto been 

 few and rather limited in extent. This is no doubt why their 

 connexion, or the continuity of the great deposit, had never until 

 now been clearly recognized. We may add that if the northern 

 extension of the Belgian basin has not been inquired into before, it 

 is because the question is of purely scientific interest, the value and 

 extent of that part of it wliich was already known having easily 

 satisfied the demand hitherto." 



[Here follow particulars as to previous trials for coal in Dutch 

 Limburg.] 



"'Four borings, Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4, have been put down at con- 

 siderable distances apart, and in each case the Coal-measures with 

 coal have been proved." 



[The accounts of these borings are then given in detail. From 

 them the dip of the Coal-measures is inferred to be 1-16 in 100 to the 

 North. Then comes an estimate of the area of the new Coal-field, 

 which, according to the author, is at least 10 kilometres in breadth. 

 In a letter to Prof. Prestwich, F.E.S., Prof. Lambert adds the follow- 

 ing paragraph.] 



" To the reasons which I have given in favour of the northern 

 extension of the Coal-fields of Germany, France, Belgium, and 

 England, and of their continuity, it may be added that north of the 

 Huhr basin at Osnabruck and at Ibbenburn (north of the Permian), 

 well -characterized Millstone-grit occurs with seams of coal — or, 

 better, of anthracite, dipping to the South. 



** Lastly, is it reasonable to supjoose that the Coal-measures 

 running from Paderborn eastward to the Channel, and probably as 

 far as Scotland to the West, has not a breadth proportional to its 

 length, as is the case with all the Carboniferous formations ? " 



Geological Society of London. — I. — June 7th, 1876. Prof. P. 

 Martin Duncan, M.B., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. — The follow- 

 ing communications were read : — 



1. " On British Fossil Cretaceous Birds." By Harry Govier 



