SCIENCE-GOSSir. 



233 



1 suggested one kind of silicon chemistry which 

 would involve great changes of energy, the chief 

 factor being the deoxidation and subsequent re- 

 oxidation of silicon. On page 136 Mr. .Martin 

 quotes this kind of action as the chemistry of 



silicates; but it is really the chemist ry of silicon, 

 ;iik1 differs from that of silicates or silica in the 

 same sense that the chemistry of carbon differs 

 from that of carbonates or CO.,. From Mr. Martin's 

 former articles in this journal I can only gather 

 that he was thinking, when he wrote them, of 

 silicates and SiO z . This seems quite definite in 

 the passage on page K! of the June issue, where he 

 says: "The storage of energy by silicon would 

 not be brought about by the addition of hydrogen, 

 as appears to be the case with carbon, in ordinary 

 life. Some other element, perhaps oxygen itself, 

 would perform this function in life at the tempera- 

 t are I am considering." 



I agree with Mr. Martin that it is at high tem- 

 peratures that silicon may be expected to play- an 

 act Lve part in life. If my references to the subject 

 have not been definite, it may be because I can- 

 not form a definite idea of silicon life with the 

 limited knowledge of silicon chemistry at our 

 disposal. 



I recommend Mr. Martin to give further study 

 to the chemistry and physiology of the pro- 

 teids ; he will then surely speak more respectfully 

 of their sulphur than he does on page 137. As to 

 his arguments based on the presence of heavier 

 elements in Living substance, may I suggest that 

 they prove nothing? The same facts could be 

 equally well used by an advocate for an opposite 

 theory — namely, that the earth has grown hotter, 

 and that the heavier elements have been partially 

 substituted for the lighter. 



A theory of life must be wide enough to include 

 the whole universe. The causes which give rise 

 to life are inherent in the Cosmos, as are matter, 

 energy, space, and time. In different parts of the 

 universe the manifestations of life may be widely 

 different, and the elements concerned will differ 

 according to the circumstances. It was formerly 

 taught that the origin of life on this world must be 

 sought in the chemical actions of " a time 'when the 

 earth was still a glowing fireball." So in L875 wrote 

 Pfliiger, the leader of modern vital chemistry. 

 We admit this to be quite possible; but since 

 recent investigation tends to show that the earth's 

 surface was never much hotter than ii is now, we 

 have to consider the alternative possibility of the 

 origin of life under circumstances not widely 

 different from the present. The matter is not 

 being left to speculation. The phenomena of life. 

 including the exact functions of each vital element , 

 are being subjected to experimental investigation ; 

 and before the end of the twentieth century many 

 vital actions may be imitated in the laboratory 

 and applied to utilitarian purposes. 



Mol rem, November L900. 



GEOLOGY IN HANTS BASIN AND 

 THAMES VALLEY. 



\',\ .1. I'. Johnson*. 



r\ describing the Pleistocene fossiliferoc 

 -*- posit of Selsey and West Wittering, Mr. C. 

 b'eid, F.R.S., suggested t hat the overlying rubble- 

 drifl was contemporaneous with the Thames Valley 

 gravels ('), but this correlation has not been 

 accepted. This was chiefly, I think, because Mr. 

 Reid took the extreme view that uol only were the 

 latter contemporaneous with the former, but they 

 were also formed in the same way that is, by 

 subaerial action, as opposed to llnviatile — whereas 

 they are undoubtedly river-drift. While the one 

 assumption cannot be maintained in the light of 

 recent research, it does not follow that the other 

 is incorrect ; and if it can be proved that the two 

 widespread deposits were built up at the saim 

 time, then an important datum line will have been 

 gained. The object of this paper is to draw atten- 

 tion to the very conclusive evidence offered by the 

 valley of the Wandle, when considered in connection 

 with other districts, in support of tin- correlation. 



Rubble-drift or coombe-rock is the name applied 

 to the extensive sheets of chalk detritus which 

 project from the dry valleys of the South Down- 

 on to the Hants Basin. As an example of the ex- 

 tent of this deposit. I may mention that it entirely 

 covers that part of the district which lies between 

 Chichester Channel and Brighton. At its source it- 

 is usually of considerable thickness, and i- ess< 1- 

 tially a breccia of chalk and flints, with incorpora- 

 tions of newer del >ris, such as greywether sandstone. 

 It, however, rapidly thins out on leaving the Down-, 

 and at the same time becomes more loamy through 

 decomposition of the chalk, and contains fewer 

 flints. This transition can be studied in the c 

 sections. East of Brighton, where the sea has 

 breached the chalk hills, sixty feet of typical 

 rubble-drift is exposed; but a little westward of 

 the town much of the chalk has already been de- 

 composed, and the whole deposit is considerably 

 reduced in thickness. At Bracklesham Bay, where 

 the rubble-drift is about eight mile- from the 

 Down-, it ha- degenerated into a stony loam. 

 Palaeolithic implements have been found in the 

 rubble-drift, also bones of mammoth, rhinoceros, 

 horse, etc.. and, more rarely, land-shells ('-'). where 

 ii has not been largely decalcified. 



The rubble-drift is clearly the result of the sub- 

 aerial denudation of the chalk down- but of what 

 form of subaerial action is unknown. .Mr. Reid 

 has offered an explanation ( s ) which tits in with 



ili C. Reid, I'.K.s . - Pleistocene Depos ts oi Suss 1 I isi and 

 their Equivalents in other Hi-tri.t-." Quart. Journ. Geo. - 

 vol. xlviii. 



(2i See [sir] Joseph Prestwich, " Raised Beaches and Rubble- 

 drift in South of England." Quart. Journ. Geo. Soc . vol. xlviii. 



(3)0. Reid, F.R.S., "Origin of Dry Chalk Valleys ami of 

 1 oombe-rock 1 =Rubble-drift 1." Quart. Journ. Geo. - 



1 3 



