5° 



fossils by several species. The following species have been deter- 

 mined from these blocks : — Hybodus reticulatus, Ag.? Ammonites 

 margaritatus, Montf. ; A. Henleyi, Sow. (on authority of Mr. R. 

 Etheridge) ; Belcmnites umbilicatus, Bl. ; Pitonilhis turbinatus, 

 Moore ; Pecten liasinus, Nyst. j Peden acutiradiatus, Schloth. ; 

 Plicatula spinosa, Sow. ; Cypricardia ciicullata, Goldf. ; Isocardia 

 cingulata, Goldf.; Limea acuticosta, Goldf; Avicula novemcostce, 

 Brown; Rhynchonella acuta, Sow.; Rhynchonella variabilis, Schloth. ; 

 Waldheimia numismalis ; Pentacrinus, sp. 



With the exception of Plicatula spinosa, Avicula novemcostce, 

 and Rhynchonella variabilis, which occur both in the Middle and 

 Lower Lias, the majority of these species indicate a horizon below 

 the Marlstone, and above the highest beds of the Lower Lias. 

 The occurrence thus reported excited considerable discussion 

 amongst geologists, some believing that, from the similar lithological 

 character and resemblance in fossil contents to the Pabba Shales, 

 there was a probability of the blocks found near Ballycastle having 

 been transported from Scotland, while Mr. Gray is of opinion that 

 they are not portions of the Scotch beds, but of a contemporaneous 

 one, which will yet be found in the neighbourhood of Ballycastle. 



On the same evening Mr. Thomas Workman read a paper 

 entitled "A month on the Prairies," being an account of a short 

 trip taken in the winter of 1869-70 through that region of the Mis- 

 sissippi, still left in its natural state. The reader, after referring to 

 the gyrations of the Kansas Pacific Railway, and to the lawlessness 

 that prevails on the outskirts of civilization, where Lynch law is 

 carried out by what are called vigilants, and a man's own prowess 

 is the only safeguard, proceeded to describe his journey across 

 the prairies. On the 26th December, he left the railroad at Hayes 

 City, a village sprung up within the last year, and with a guide set 

 out on horseback for Fort Dodge, situated on the Arkansas River, 

 95 miles to the southward. The journey occupied three days. 

 The first night was passed in sleeplessness on the hard earthen 

 floor of a shanty, and the second stretched alongside the camp 



