72 



average amount of solid matter held in suspension to be 28 grains 

 in the cubic foot of water. From these data he deduces the result 

 that 1 4-5,981 cubic feet of solid matter are borne past Bonn every 

 24 liours. 



A paper was next read, entitled, " Observations on the Geo- 

 logical Structure of the Neighbourhood of Reading," by J. Rofe, 

 Esq., and communicated by Robert Hunter, Esq., F.G.S. 



This communication was accompanied by a collection of fossils 

 from the neighbourhood of Reading, and was prepared by the 

 author chiefly to point out the localities and geological connexions 

 of the specimens; but he also describes some beds belonging- to 

 the plastic clay, which are not mentioned in the published accounts 

 of the district. 



In detailing tiie section presented by the Katsgrove pits, he 

 states, that the upper part of the chalk is perforated to about the 

 depth of a foot by tubular cavities resembling those made by the 

 Teredo in wood. The oyster-bed, which rests upon the chalk, he 

 says, is divisible into two parts, each about a foot thick, the lower 

 consisting principally of brown clay, and the upper of the sand 

 containing green particles. Above this bed the author observed 

 about a foot and a half of clay, and in the quartzose sand resting 

 upon it a layer of ochreous nodules. The account given by Dr, 

 Buckland of the strata above the one last mentioned*, the author 

 says is correct, with the exception of a thin bed of shells which 

 occurs about 6 feet from the top of the section, and which is not 

 mentioned in Dr. Buckland's paper. This bed was also noticed by 

 Mr. Rofe in many other places in the immediate neighbourhood of 

 Reading, and at Woodley Lodge, about three miles to the east of 

 the town. At the latter locality the order of the beds is as follows : 



Blue clay, about 40 feet. 



The shelly stratum. 



Mottled clay . 55 — 



Ditto, occasionally sandy. ... 35 — 



In conclusion, the author states that all the wells in Reading, 

 excepting those supplied by land-springs, both on the north and 

 south of the Kennet, and even within 30 yards of its banks, are 

 regulated by the Thames, rising and falling with that river. This 

 phenomenon, he conceives, may be accounted for, by the Kennet 

 flowing over a bed of tenacious clay, whereas the Thames flows 

 over gravel resting immediately upon chalk, into which the wells 

 arje sunk. 



March 12. — Col. Pasley, C.B., Royal Engineei's, Woolwich; 

 the Knight of Kerry; and Edward Hill, Esq., B.A., of Christ 

 Church, Oxford, were elected Fellows of this Society. 



A paper was read, entitled, " Observations on the Temple of 

 Serapis at Pozzuoli, near Naples ; with Remarks on certain Causes 

 which may produce Geological Cycles of great Extent. In a 

 Letter to W. H. Fitton, M.D., from Charles Babbage, Esq." 



"* Geol. Trans., 1st Ser., vol. iv. p. 278. 



