Miners' Association of Cornwall. 239 



Scrohicularia and Tellina, both in an intercalated belt of blue silt 

 and in the clay below, but not one freshwater shell. 



These are typical instances, for Mr. De Eance states that the peat at 

 Birkdale " rests upon 20 ft. of Cyclas Clay." 



In a well-sinking at Norris Farm, Hightown, a bed of marine 

 shells was found at a depth of 20 feet. 



In a well at Seaforth Station, in the valley of the Eimrose, similar 

 results were obtained. 



But being desirous of finally settling the matter, and as Mr. De 

 Eance had kindly suggested an. examination and determination of 

 the DiatoinacecB in the clay, I subjected many specimens, from 

 widely separated localities, taken at various depths, to a searching 

 microscopic examination, and not only found, as determined by 

 Mr. Frederick Kitton, of Norwich, that the species were all marine, 

 but that a considerable number of species of Foraminifera and other 

 marine forms were also included in the clay. 



It hardly will, I think, be considered necessary for me to go on 

 piling evidence upon evidence. Suffice it to say that having, as a 

 civil engineer, unusual facilities for carrying on the examination, I 

 have not the slightest hesitation in declaring the whole (with the 

 possible exception of some superficial beds which I have not 

 seen) to be marine. This conclusion, the result of very great care 

 and trouble, is only what one might a priori expect, for the water- 

 sheds of the rivers and brooks draining into the 75 square miles of 

 country occupied by the deposits we know to exist, together with 

 others that have been destroyed by encroachment of the sea, are 

 quite insufficient to produce the required effect in any moderate 

 allowance of time. We have only to compare what has been efi"ected 

 since the close of the Glacial period in the filling up of lakes by 

 denudation of moraine matter, to see the utter inadequacy of the 

 causes assigned for the production of such extensive and thick de- 

 posits as those that underlie the superior peat-bed in West Lan- 

 cashire. Is it not therefoi'e probable that Mr. De Eance has been the 

 victim of a hasty examination, — that he has mistaken for fossils the 

 dead shells of Cyclas cornea (which lives in the dykes now) thrown 

 out with the clay when the periodical cleansing of the dykes take 

 place? It is unnecessary for me, and there is no space to reply to 

 other questions I had not raised in my letter. I shall, however, be 

 glad to enter upon their discussion when the main point of dif- 

 ference between us has been settled. T. Mellakd Eeade. 



Heath House, Bltjndellsands, near Liverpool. 



The Miners' Association of Cornwall and Devon announce 

 that two prizes in Books, value £5 and £3 each respectively, are 

 offered' by J. A. Phillips, Esq., Merab. Inst. C.E., F.G.S., F.C.S., to 

 the present and former pupils of the Miners' Association, for the 

 best essays on "the 'Elvan Courses' of Cornwall." Papers and 

 specimens to be delivered to the Hon. Secretary, Polytechnic Hall 

 Falmouth, on or before September 1st, 1873. — (See Advertisement.) ' 



