318 



marked or alternating with clay seams (which effectually preserve 

 the surface in all its original freshness), little doubting that the re- 

 sult will be to throw much new light on the early history of our 

 planet, and on the habits and characters of its successive races of ani- 

 mated inhabitants. 



The reading of a paper, entitled " A description of longitudinal 

 and transverse sections through a portion of the carboniferous chain 

 between Penigentand Kirkby Stephen," by the Rev. Adam Sedgwick, 

 F.G.S., F.R.S., Woodwardian Professor in the University of Cam- 

 bridge, — was begun. 



March 16. — Henry Bickersteth, Esq., Fellow of Caius College 

 Cambridge, and of Lincoln's Inn, London ; and Charles Barclay, 

 Esq. of Grosvenor Place, were elected Fellows of this Society. 



The reading of the paper by the Rev. Professor Sedgwick, begun 

 at the last Meeting, was concluded. 



The author having in a former paper (read Jan. 5th, 1831) de- 

 scribed some of the characters of the great central carboniferous 

 chain of the North of England, here describes, in great detail, the 

 composition of a very remarkable portion of it, which forms a con- 

 necting link between the structure of the High Peak of Derbyshire 

 and the region of Cross Fell. The principal section, commencing 

 at the top of Penigent in Hocton parish, passes over the highest 

 mountains of the chain, and ends in the valley of the Eden, near 

 Kirkby Stephen, among the conglomerates of the new red sandstone. 

 From the top of Penigent and of Whernside, branch out two other 

 sections connecting the mountains along the principal line, with 

 those which range between Wensleydale and Swaledale. The suc- 

 cessive groups of strata appearing along these lines are described 

 in the ascending order, and their modifications in the successive val- 

 leys where they crop out are shortly noticed. 



It is impossible to notice the seventeen groups enumerated in 

 this paper ; but they may be subdivided more simply into three 

 principal groups as follows : 



1st. Great scar limestone ; the maximum thickness of which is 

 more than 500 feet. The author compares this group with the 

 limestone of the High Peak, and shows that they have many cha- 

 racters in common. He particularly notices the reciprocating wells 

 and caverns, about the origin of which he briefly speculates. He 

 notices the chief changes of mineralogical character; and states 

 that among the very rare fossils of the mountain limestone, ammo- 

 nites, Trilobites, and Orthoceratites, appear to be confined to this 

 group. Hefurther states, that although carbonaceous and bituminous 

 matter are the colouring principle of the lime&tone strata in this 

 group, there are no workable beds of coal subordinate to it on any 

 of the lines of section. 



2nd. The next great group comprehends no less than eleven 

 groups of the author's sections, and in several mountains is more than 

 1000 feet in thickness. It is essentially composed of mountain 

 limestone, sandstone, and shale. The limestone groups are stated 

 to be five in number, and to be very remarkable for their regularity 



