82 Reports and Proceedings. 



1. Geological Society of London. — December 7, 1870. — Joseph. 

 Prestwich, Esq., F.E.S., President, in the chair. The following 

 communications were read: — 1. ''On Fossils from Cradock and else-, 

 where in South Africa." By Dr. George Grey. Communicated by 

 Prof. T. Eupert Jones, F.G.S. 



From the Karoo-beds, Dicynodont fossils and the jaw of a reptile, 

 BstliericB, and some coal and coal-plants (Lepidodendron, Sigillaria, 

 etc.), were the chief specimens noticed by the author. Some Stig- 

 marice from the old Coal of Lower Albany, and gravel and miscel- 

 laneous minerals from the Diamond Fields, formed part of the 

 collection. 



2, " On some points in South- African Geology." — Part 11. By 

 G. W. Stow, Esq. Communicated by Prof. T. Eupert Jones, F.G.S. 



This paper commenced with a detailed account of the Forest zones, 

 coal, and other strata of the Karoo formation, as seen in sections 

 in the Winterberg and Stormberg. The author particularly pointed 

 out the position of the Fern-beds at Dordrecht, of the Eeptilian re- 

 mains found on the Upper Zwartkei, and of the Coal on the Klaas 

 Smits Eiver. He next referred to the climatal changes of South 

 Africa, as indicated by its geology and fossils, particularly the 

 Karoo-beds, the Enon conglomerate, the Trigonia-heds, the several 

 Post-Tertiary shell-beds, and especially the present surface con- 

 ditions, which he regarded as due to ice-action, as evidence of which 

 he adduces roches moutonnees, moraines, basins, and striae, both north 

 and south of the Stormberg, in British Kaffraria, and even in Lower 

 Albany. He concluded with remarks on the probable succession of 

 periods, and on the former existence of a great southern continent. 



Discussion. — Prof. Eamsay expressed a hope that the author at some future time 

 would discuss the numerous subjects of which he treated at greater length and under 

 separate heads. He was not surprised at the finding of Carboniferous plants in the 

 Dicynodon beds, which appeared to be of Triassic age, inasmuch as the same was the 

 case to some extent in our own later beds of Oolitic date. He agreed in the view of 

 the probability of a vast continent having formerly existed in the southern part of 

 the world, and considered that the denudation of Southern Africa had been so great, 

 that it was no wonder the boundaries of the old freshwater lakes were no longer easy 

 to find. It was also by no means surprising to him that a recurrence of glacial 

 phenomena should be found in Southern Africa, as it had been in Europe. He did 

 not, however, think it necessary to call in the action of ice for the excavation of 

 valleys such as some of those described, as rain and running water appeared to him 

 sufficiently powerful for the purpose. At the same time he would not deny the 

 possibility of ice having been the agent in these cases. 



Mr. R. Tate had seen evidence of similar efi'ects being produced by aqueous force 

 to those resulting from glacial action, and cited instances of moraine-like deposits 

 having been formed by running streams in Central and Southern America. 



Mr. Henry "Woodward suggested that it would be desirable to wait for further par- 

 ticulars of the sections before assuming the actual association of Sigillaria, Ale- 

 thopteris, and other accepted Coal -measure plants, with plants of doubtful Car- 

 boniferous age, such as Palmozamia and Glossopteris. He added that the Stigmaria 

 lately said to have been obtained from the Kimmeridge Clay, had really come 

 originally from Newcastle. 



Prof, T. Rupert Jones remarked that Mr. Stow, like other South- African geologists, 

 had had ample experience of the efi'ects of violent rain. "With regard to the mixture 



