23^ Reports and Proceedings, 



The author inferred that, as tlie conditions of depth and deposit 

 of the upper part of the Lower Lias are repeated in the lower part 

 of the Middle Lias, accompanied by a total change in the fauna, a 

 break in the stratigraphical succession existed between the Lower 

 and Middle Lias. This view is supported by the fact of the nume- 

 rical decrease of species in passing up through the several stages 

 of the Lower Lias, and that of the introduction of many new generic 

 types with the zone of Ammonites Jamesoni. Many new species 

 were described. 



Discussion. — Prof. Boyd Dawkins had attempted to test these Liassic zones as a 

 means of classification of the rocks in Somersetshire, and the result had been that he 

 had been unable to accept them as fixing hard and fast lines of demarcation ; for he 

 had found three of the distinctive Ammonites together in one bed. On our present 

 shores the change of one form of molluscan life for another seemed to take place in 

 limited areas, and to be dependent on some slight variation of physical conditions 

 rather than on any great change. He had not been able to trace any stratigraphical 

 unconformity between the Middle and Lower Lias in many parts of England, what- 

 ever might be the case in Gloucestershire. 



; Mr. Tate, in reply, gave an account of the manner in which he had arrived at his 

 conclusions, and expressed his assent to the view that Ammonite-zones were only of 

 value over limited areas, but considered that a triple division in the Lower, and a 

 dual division in the Middle Lias were well established on palaeontological and litho- 

 logical features. The break which he had pointed out was palseontological rather 

 than stratigraphical, though the one might be inferred from the other. 



4. " Geological Observations on the Waipara Eiver, New Zealand." 

 By T. H. Cockbum Hood, Esq., F.G.S. 



In this paper the author described the general features of the 

 locality from which he has obtained bones of Plesiosaurus, IcldTiyo- 

 saurus, and Teleosawrus. The bones were not obtained in situ, but 

 from large boulders and blocks scattered in the ravines of the Waipara 

 and its tributaries. 



Discussion. — Prof. Boyd Dawkins remarked on the presence of Crocodilia in New 

 Zealand being proved by the procelian vertebra. 



5. E. H. Scott, Esq.. F.G.S., communicated an extract from a letter 

 addressed to him by M. Coumbary, Director of the Imperial Obser- 

 vatory of Constantinople, containing an account received from M. L. 

 Carabello of the reported fall of a large meteorite, near Mourzouk, in 

 the district of Fezzan, in lat. 26° N., and long. 12° E. of Paris. It 

 fell on the evening of the 25th December last, in the form of a great 

 globe of fire, measuring nearly a metre in diameter. On touching 

 the earth it threw off strong sparks, with a noise like the report of a 

 pistol, and exhaled a peculiar odour. It fell near a group of Arabs, 

 who were so much frightened by it that they " immediately dis- 

 charged their guns at this incomprehensible monster." 



II. April 13th, 1870.— Sir P. de Malpas Grey Egerton, Bart., 

 M.P., F.K.S , Vice-President, in the chair. The following commu- 

 nications were read : — 1. A letter from Dr. Gerard Krefft, dated 

 Sydney, 29th of January, 1869, accompanying a model of the left 

 lower incisor of Thylacoleo carnifex, Owen, and the original frag-^ 

 ment from which the model was made. Dr. Krefft also referred to 

 the fossil remains of Herbivorous Marsupials in the Museum at 

 Sydney, which included, according to him, besides a great number 



