164 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [June 17, 



5. On the Gravels at Taunton, in Somersetshire. 

 By J. D. Pring, Esq. 

 [Communicated by S. R. Pattison, Esq., F.G.S.] 

 [Abstract.] 



The River Tone at Taunton occupies a small depression in the red 

 marls, and runs through a vale overspread with red gravels and clays. 

 Its affluents descend from greensand and liassic districts on the one 

 hand, and from hills of Devonian rocks on the other. 



In the excavations made at Taunton for sewering, and for the 

 railway, the composition of the surface-beds throughout long spaces 

 has been disclosed, and it is ascertained that at least two distinct 

 and successive operations have produced them. 



Immediately over the red marl lies a bed of coarse slaty Devonian 

 gravel, with finer materials of the same kind, occasionally interstra- 

 tified. In this no fragment of the upper rocks occurs. It has been 

 deposited by the waters from the palaeozoic districts alone. 



This is covered by a liassic and flinty gravel, containing rolled 

 Gryphcece and fragments of lias, with flints from the greensands. 

 Near the surface the latter predominate. 



Neither of these gravels ascends the slope of the hills : they are 

 mere fluviatile accumulations. Remains of Rhinoceros and abun- 

 dance of bog-timber were found at their base in the course of the 

 excavation at the County Gaol at Taunton. 



The West of England is remarkably free from the ancient post- 

 tertiary drifts so prevalent in the north-eastern and midland counties. 

 The present communication, with the plans forwarded for its illus- 

 tration, is intended as a contribution towards the history of the com- 

 paratively minute changes which have aided in the formation of 

 the present surfaces, and which, though not very interesting, are yet 

 essential portions of the complete study of geology. 



6. Palichthyologic Notes, No. 10. On Pal^eoniscus super- 

 stes. By Sir P. de M. Grey Egerton, Bart., M.P., F.R.S., 

 F.G.S., &c. With a Note on the Locality of the Fossil; by 

 the Rev. P. B. Brodie, F.G.S. 



[Plate XL] 



The pretty little fish discovered by the Rev. P. B. Brodie in the 

 Keuper beds of Rowington, and submitted to me for description, 

 belongs undoubtedly to the genus Palceoniscus. The extremities are 

 unfortunately deficient, but enough of the tail remains to show that 

 it was completely heterocerque. The specimen (PI. XI. figs. 1 & 2) 

 measures one inch and three-quarters in length, by six-tenths of 

 an inch at its greatest depth. The pectoral fins are lost, together 

 with the head and the scapulo-coracoid arch. The other loco- 

 motive organs are well preserved, with the exception of the ex- 

 tremity of the caudal fin. The ventral fins occupy a very advanced 

 position in front of the middle line of the body. They are small, 



