﻿92 Reports and Proceedings — 



with which he had been enabled to contrast them. The largest, on 

 that account, he had named T. robusta; it rivalled the gigantic 

 Testudo ephippium, Giinther, in size, showing affinities to it in a 

 few minor characters. A smaller species, T. Sprattii, and a small 

 Lutremys, not distinguishable, as far as the few remains extend, from 

 the recent L. europcBa, besides many fragments of shields of tortoises 

 of various dimensions, had been obtained. These Chelonians were 

 found in conjunction with the remains of the dwarf Elephants and 

 other members of the remarkable fauna, collected by Admiral Spratt 

 and the author in the ossiferous rock-cavities of Zebbug, Mnaidra, 

 Benghisa, etc. The paper contained a list of the animal remains 

 hitherto recorded from the Maltese fissure caverns, including three 

 species of dwarf Elephants, two species of Hippopotamus, two 

 gigantic species of Myoxus, a gigantic Swan, and other animal re- 

 mains ; and further, a Note on some Chelonian remains from the 

 rock fissures of Gibraltar. 



2. " On the Corallian Eocks of England." By the Eev. J. F. 

 Blake, M.A., F.G-.S., and W. H. Hudleston, Esq., M.A., F.G.S. 



The object of the paper was to describe the rock masses existing 

 betwixt the Oxford and Kimmeridge Clays. Topographically the 

 Corallian region is divided into five districts of very unequal size, 

 wholly separated from each other. The special features of each dis- 

 trict were detailed, both as regards the development, composition, 

 and fauna of the several subformations therein contained, and these 

 latter compared with their equivalents or representatives in the other 

 districts. The old names were, as far as possible, retained; but, 

 where obviously inapplicable, local names replaced them. 



In the Weymouth district (I.) one section discloses 230 feet of beds 

 between the Oxford and Kimmeridge Clays, made up in ascending 

 order of grits, clays, marls and oolites, gritty limestones very fossili- 

 ferous towards the top, clays, and grits. Another section on the 

 opposite side of the anticlinal shows the same development of the 

 central limestones ; but the lower series is considerably attenuated, 

 and the upper series (Supra-Coralline) shrunk from about 90 feet to 

 a thin ferruginous band of only a few inches. There are hardly any 

 corals, and no Coral Eag whatever ; argillaceous and arenaceous 

 matter, always, however, more or less mixed with lime, prepon- 

 derates, but there is a rich and varied fauna, which has strong 

 affinities with some of the Corallian beds of other districts. This 

 culminates in the Trigonia-heds, which lie towards the top of the 

 main limestone series ; above this the fauna inclines to Kimmeridgian, 

 below to Oxfordiau types. The remarkable irregularity of the Supra- 

 Coralline beds was noted, especial reference being made to the 

 mineral character, fossil contents, and geological position of the 

 Abbotsbury iron-ore. In the North Dorset district (II.) the thick- 

 ness of the mass is much reduced, and its constitution greatly altered. 

 Corals are still very rare, but calcareous sediment greatly pre- 

 ponderates, and is made up largely of comminuted shell, loosely 

 aggregated pisolites, and rubble, frequently false-bedded ; the 

 arenaceous base of the Corallian series, described generally under 



