68 PROCEEDINGS OP THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY - . [May 1 894, 



If we endeavour to draw any practical conclusions from the 

 above-quoted papers as to the mode of formation of coal-seams, and 

 also as regards the origin of the Coal-measures generally, we can 

 scarcely do better, in the first instance, than accept the suggestion 

 of Mr. Kirkby that the Coal-measures both in Scotland and the 

 North of England represent, in the main, deltaic formations rather 

 than lacustrine ones. There is but little novelty in the recognition 

 of marine fossils in the Coal-measures, but the facts required to be 

 brought forward more prominently, and especially to be sifted 

 as they have been by Dr. Wheelton Hind. When we read of 

 incursions of the sea we are reminded of what occurs from time to 

 time in all deltaic or estuarine deposits ; and these facts may to a 

 certain extent be paralleled in the Jurassic coal-field of Yorkshire, 

 and even in the Purbecks, though in the latter case without coal. 

 Of course, in such areas there would be plenty of freshwater lagoons 

 or lakelets, with their peculiar fauna ; and Mr. Gresley need not be 

 surprised at fish-remains occurring in coal, even on the supposition 

 that a large portion of it represents local growths. The fens which 

 border the Wash consist very largely of peat formed from local 

 growth, and shallow basins in this peat, such as Whittlesea Mere, 

 used to be full of fish. There must be many a pike buried in the 

 peat of that now-drained fen ready to be converted into a ' fossil 

 fish in coal ' under the requisite conditions. Again, it is not 

 unlikely that the old Carboniferous fens were occasionally per- 

 meated by channels, which would in times of flood have connexion 

 with a bigger river. This view might help to explain the flotation 

 of spore-cases, and even the transport of boulders from afar, which, 

 having journeyed for some distance on floating vegetation, were 

 quietly dropped from the surface of some calm and shallow pool 

 upon the peat beneath. In conclusion, we may feel sure that just 

 as the nature of coal varies so did the methods by which it was 

 produced. 



Coal in the South-east of England. 



Just about seven years ago Mr. Whitaker contributed some 

 further notes on the results of deep borings in Kent. This supple- 

 mentary paper was brought before the Society owing to the fresh 

 light which a boring at Dover at that time seemed to throw on the 

 underground geology of the London Basin. The boring in question 

 was made at the convict prison, and, having been abandoned at 

 931 feet from the surface, failed to reach the Palaeozoic rocks. 



