MUSEUM REPORT. CXXXiil 
period elapsed during the accumulation of this arenaceous series ; 
and that the production of the materials or component detritus in- 
volved many curious, complicated geological phenomena. The im- 
portant inferences deducible from the coal conglomerate of South 
Wales can be fully estimated only by actual inspection of specimens. 
As respects another point alluded to in the note with which I was 
favoured—the forming of one general, stratigraphical collection—I 
beg to state that the principle, laid down long before I had the honour 
of being connected with the Society, of separating the Foreign col- 
lections, has always appeared to have been based on a right view of 
the state of geological knowledge ; and it is conceived that it would 
be unadvisable now, should the whole collections be maintained, to 
intermix with the English stratigraphical series, which is almost per- 
fectly determined, foreign suites of doubtful equivalent age. 
The Foreign collections, to which attention was particularly called, 
it is respectfully suggested, could not by any application of the So- 
ciety’s resources be made of equal scientific value with the existing 
British series, much less of so great importance or benefit to geolo- 
gists, as that series might be made by inferior exertions. If the 
Museum were confined to the productions of other countries it would 
cease to be visited by foreigners, and it would be of comparatively 
little value to field-workmen in England. Could any collections not 
connected with these islands be regarded as having direct claims upon 
the Society, and might be expected to be found in its cabinets, they 
would clearly be those derived from English colonies. As the re- 
sources of the Society, however, are in all respects limited, it is con- 
ceived that foreign series ought to yield first. Under the direction 
of committees appointed in 1841 and 1842, the removal of rock-spe- 
cimens from that division of the Museum was commenced, and if 
carried out to the full extent, it is believed an amount of cabinets 
would be gained more than sufficient to permit the removal to the 
upper room of the Scottish and Irish collections, and thereby liberate 
immediately 160 drawers for the extension of the English series. The 
foreign fossil suites are not extensive, and probably would not occupy 
a greater number of cabinets than was assigned in 1842 and previous 
years to the whole American continent. The secondary fossils from 
Cutch and the Desert to the north-east of it, and those from Southern 
India, would not perhaps possess the same amount of interest at pre- 
sent in any Museum as in that of the Society, where they can be 
compared with English analogues. 
One other object was alluded to in the note with which I have been 
honoured, namely the vertebral remains. The Ava bones and some 
valuable mammalian reliquiz not exhibited, could, most clearly, be 
made more available to science in establishments possessed of officers 
fully competent for their right appreciation than in the Geological 
Society, whose means necessarily prevent efficient researches in every 
branch of organic remains. 
I beg to apologise for trespassing so far on the Committee, but 
