On Metamorphic and Overlying Rocks. 221 



January 24. — Dr. J. Gwyn Jeffreys, F.R.S., Vice-President, 

 in the Chair. 

 The following communications were read : — 



1. "On Streptelasma Eoemeri, sp. nov., from the Wenlock Shale." 

 By Prof. P. Martin Duncan, F.R.S., V.P.G.S. 



2. " On Cyaihophyllum Fletcluri, Edw. & H., sp." By Prof. P. 

 Martin Duncan, F.R.S., V.P.G.S. 



3. "On the Fossil Madreporaria of the Great Oolite of the 

 Counties of Gloucester and Oxford." By .Robert F. Tomes, Esq., 

 F.G.S. 



February 7.— J. W. Hulke, Esq., F.R.S., President, 

 in the Chair. 



The following communications were read : — 



1. "On the Metamorphic and Overlying Rocks in parts of Ross 

 and Inverness shires." By Henry Hicks, M.D., E.G.S. With Petro- 

 logical Notes by Prof. T. G. Bonney, M.A., F.R.S., Sec. G.S. 



In this paper the author described numerous sections which have 

 been examined by him in three separate visits made to the north-west 

 Highlands. In some previous papers, sections in the neighbourhood 

 of Loch Maree had been chiefly referred to. Those now described 

 are to the south and south-east of that area, and occur in the neigh- 

 bourhoods of Achmashellach, Strathcarron, Loch Carron,LochTrishm, 

 Attadale, Stronoe Ferry, Loch Alsh, and in the more central areas 

 about Loch Shiel and Loch Eil to the Caledonian Canal. 



In these examinations the author paid special attention to the 

 stratigraphical evidence, to see whether there were any indications 

 which could in any way be relied upon to prove the theory pro- 

 pounded by Sir R. Murchison that in these areas f ossiliferous Lower 

 Silurian rocks dip under thousands of feet of the highly crystalline 

 schists which form the mountains in the more central areas. On 

 careful examination he found that, in consequence of frequent dis- 

 locations in the strata, the newer rocks were frequently made to 

 appear to dip under the highly crystalline series to the east, though 

 in reality the appearance in each case was easily seen to be due to 

 accidental causes. Evidences of dislocation along this line were 

 most marked ; and the same rocks, in consequence, were seldom 

 found brought together. He recognized in these eastern areas 

 at least two great groups of crystalline schists metamorphosed 

 throughout in all the districts examined, even when regularly 

 bedded and not disturbed or contorted ; and they have represen- 

 tatives in the western areas among the Hebridean series, which 

 cannot in any way be differentiated from them. These he called 

 locally by the names, in descending order, of Ben-Fyn and Loch- 

 Shiel series. The former consist, in their upper part, of silvery mica- 

 schists and gneisses, with white felspar and quartz ; in their lower 

 part, of hornblendic rocks, with bands of pink felspar and quartz, 

 and of chloritic and epidotic rocks and schists. The Loch-Shiel 

 series consists chiefly of massive granitoid gneisses and hornblendic 

 and black mica-schists. Thirty- three microscopical sections of the 



