326 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [Feb. 1, 



of the East of Jamaica *, referred these rocks to the palaeozoic series 

 ("Transition"); but he was guided entirely by mineral characters, 

 not having found any organic remains. 



It is also evident that the igneous rocks forming the base of this 

 series, and interstratified with some of the shales and conglomerates, 

 were erupted prior to the deposition of the Cretaceous limestones, 

 and at intervals of time sufficient for the formation of the interbedded 

 aqueous strata. 



The second and third of the above-described sections much re- 

 semble those of the Penquenes ridge of the Andes (described by 

 Darwinf), where porphyries, which had flowed as submarine lavas, 

 alternate with conglomerates, composed of the same rocks, and 

 overlaid with beds containing Cretaceous fossils. 



3. On the Occurrence of a Mass of Coal in the Chalk of Kent. 

 By E. Godwin- Austen, Esq., F.B.S., E.G.S. 



The first notice which appeared in the public papers relative to 

 the coal found in the Chalk of Kent was the following : — 



" Coal discovered in Kent. — While the workmen employed on the 

 London, Chatham, and Dover Eailway were engaged in tunnelling 

 between Lydden-hill and Shepherdswell, a few miles from Dover, 

 they came upon a fine seam of coal, and, what is most remarkable, 

 the coal is on all sides surrounded with chalk, with the usual seams 

 of flint as are seen on the cliffs of Dover. The more the seam is en- 

 tered upon the better becomes the quality of the coal. Altogether 

 it is an interesting study for geologists, and may probably in a short 

 time become of vast importance to commerce and the community." — 

 Dover Chronicle. 



To this succeeded an account of the visit of Messrs. Maiden and 

 Andrews (of the East Kent Natural History Society) : — 



" The Discovery of Coal in Kent. — In accordance with the arrange- 

 ment made at the last meeting of the East Kent Natural History 

 Society, the Eev. B. S. Maiden and Mr. A. B. Andrews visited 

 Lydden on Monday, for the purpose of ascertaining the facts with 

 reference to the alleged discovery of coal. It appears that the sub- 

 stance found is in reality coal, though its occurrence in the position 

 in which it lay is difficult to explain. The workmen engaged in 

 executing Lydden tunnel found imbedded in the chalk, at a depth of 

 180 feet, a mass of coal weighing about 4 cwt. "With the exception 

 of this lump no other coal has been seen. In their walk through the 

 tunnel the visitors saw great numbers of flints in the chalk, and also 

 veins of clay and apparent faults in the formation, but where the 

 coal was found there was nothing of the kind. The chalk here was 

 solid, without fault or fissure. The coal is bituminous, containing 

 veins of ferruginous clay. Mr. Maiden having applied a lens, it took 



* Trans. Geol. Soc. 2nd ser. vol. ii. part 2. p. 143. 

 f Darwin's ' Naturalist's Voyage,' p. 319. 



