306 ON MAMMALIAN EEMAINS, ETC., AT EEADING. 



tions in this pit add another to the scattered evidences that occur 

 at intervals along the valley of the Thames, proving the existence in 

 some Postglacial time of a larger river occupying its valley and 

 flowing at a level from 20 to 30 feet higher than the present ; and 

 in some parts of the pit the beds are so perfect as to afford evidence 

 of the directioa even of the minor currents of the river, while the 

 organic remains give us valuable proof as to the fauna and flora that 

 lived on its banks. When my attention was first directed to this 

 pit, I perceived to some extent the interesting nature of the recon- 

 struction, and sent a short account of it to Prof. Prestwich ; and he 

 very kindly came down and visited the pit, and pointed out that the 

 reconstruction was even more extensive than I had imagined. I fol- 

 lowed out his kind suggestion and made drawings of the best sections, 

 and took careful notes of all parts of the pit : and from these and 

 the specimens I have been able to collect, this paper has been 

 written. 



Discussion. 



Prof. Prestwich remarked on the interest attaching to the finding 

 of mammalian remains not associated with coarse gravel, but in 

 finely stratified fluviatile beds, which do not otherwise occur between 

 Oxford and Eeading in the Thames valley. The finding of con- 

 temporaneous tree-trunks is exceptional. 



Mr. Whitae:er said that great masses of reconstructed Tertiaries 

 beneath the gravels had not been found at other points in the 

 Thames valley. He suggested that the reconstruction might be 

 due to landslips and the action of springs. 



Prof. T. McK. Hu&hes instanced a similar case of the reconstruc- 

 tion of Tertiary beds at the Upnor- Castle section. 



The Author said certain proofs of fluviatile action in the recon- 

 structed Deds were found in the rolled tree-trunks, the waterworn 

 bones, and the fine lamination of the sands and clays. In some 

 instances the direction of the minor currents could be traced by the 

 finely-bedded sands. 



