TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 63 



ten feet of gravel, thus making its entire elevation sixty-five feet above the present 

 sea level. It is composed of fragments of rocks of the neighbouring shore, such as 

 limestone, slate, red sandstone, and reddish porphyry, together with quantities of 

 granitic sand, which is arranged in consolidated horizontal layers or false bedding 

 with intervals of loose sand; a few shells (Patella and Euccinum) have been found 

 in it ; and recently, on its upper part, ten feet below the surface of the present soil, 

 were discovered bones and teeth of the elephant, rhinoceros, bear, horse and deer; also 

 caudal vertebree of the whale, and the lower valve of a large oyster. 



The quantity of fragments of leg-bones amounted to several bushels, being exceed- 

 ingly fragile, and deprived of their animal matter; the whale's vertebrae and bear's 

 tusks appeared much worn, as if by long-continued friction in water. Above and to 

 the west of this deposit, eighty-eight feet from the present sea, is another accumulation 

 of rounded quartz pebbles, ironstone, and sandstone, imbedded in a matrix of white 

 clay, apparently differing altogether in character from the former, and assimilating 

 to the deposits noticeable higher up the country about Barnstaple. The author de- 

 scribed a continuation of the same accumulation several hundred feet to the west- 

 ward, on a level with its lower line, composed of rounded masses of large size, 

 mixed with sea-sand, containing numerous fragments of Purpura, Patella, Buccinum, 

 &c., all similar to the Mollnsca of the present sea ; and then mentioned numerous in- 

 stances of similar deposits occurring all around the shores of the harbour of Plymouth. 

 Nearly the entire collection of bones was similar to those formerly obtained from the 

 limestone caverns of Oreston,Yealm Bridge, Kitley, and Kent's Hole, all in this county. 

 Dr. Moore inferred that the beach must have existed as such at the time when the ani- 

 mals of the caverns were in a living state : that it was really originally washed by the 

 sea, he considered proved by the rounded form of the vertebrae of the whale and many 

 of the bones ; and from the marine shells deposited in it he believed that there must 

 have been an elevation of the land at some former period, taking place slowly, not by 

 any sudden convulsion, likely to destroy the animals then existing. 



Account of the Strata pe7ietrated in sinking an Artesian Well at the Victoria 

 Spa, Plymouth. By Edward Moore, M.D., F.L.S. 



The author pointed out the mode by which the operations were conducted. The 

 strata penetrated were as follows : — earthy clay-slate, 20 feet; limestone, 150 ; blue 

 slate, 20 ; red sandstone, 3 ; red slate, 37 ; limestone, 50 ; sandstone, 4 ; red and 

 blue slate, 30 ; diinstone, 8 ; earthy clay-slate, 20 ; red sandstone, 12 ; making a total 

 of 3C5 feet. The earthy slates were of the character of tliose generally found under 

 the limestone, but they were interspersed with blue shillat slates, similar to those 

 which occur above it. From the circumstance of the slate rocks immediately below 

 the red sandstone being in each instance tinged red, the author imagined that their 

 colour might in these cases, if not in all, arise from the iron of the red bands affecting 

 them by percolation. He next remarked, that from the alternations of slate and lime- 

 stone, the former appearing, from a consideration of the section, to come up in wedges 

 through the latter, it might be possible that the opinion that some of the Plymouth 

 limestones might have been formed in a manner analogous to the modern coral reefs 

 was founded on correct data, although in many other localities in the vicinity the bands 

 belong to the same uninterrupted sei-ies of deposits. The quantity of water obtained 

 was at first considerable, and overflowed the pipe ; at present it generally remains 

 about two feet below the surface, from whence it is carried to the saloon by a pump ; 

 it is clear and sparkling, and of a saline taste ; it has been examined by Professors 

 Faraday and Daniell, and found to contain in the imperial pint 8-100 cubic inches of 

 carbonic acid gas, and 151 '66 grains of dry salts, thus: — 



Chloride of sodium 96-64 



Muriate of magnesia 18-68 



Muriate of lime 15-10 



Sulphate of soda 9-55 



Sulphate of Hme <......i..j..i. 8-94 



Carbonate of lime 2-06 



' Carbonate of iron , 0-69 



151-66 

 Its specific gravity at 62° is 1013'3. 



