On the Superficial Deposits of the Valley of the Medway. 379 



character, while the shells found in it belong to species common in 

 that deposit. 



2. " On the Superficial Deposits of the Valley of the Medway, 

 with Remarks on the Denudation of the Weald." By C. Le Neve 

 Foster, Esq., B.A., B.Sc, F.G.S., and William Topley, Esq., F.G.S., 

 of the Geological Survey of Great Britain. 



In the first part of the paper the authors gave a description of 

 the superficial deposits of the valley of the Medway. They showed 

 that deposits of river-gravel and brick-earth (loess) occur at various 

 heights up to 300 feet above the level of the river. A detailed 

 account was given of the "pipes" at Maidstone, where brick-earth 

 (loess), containing land and freshwater shells and mammalian re- 

 mains, has been let down into deep cavities in the Kentish Rag, 

 probably by the gradual dissolving away of the limestone by the 

 action of rain-water containing carbonic acid. Several interesting 

 cases of disturbed gravel were mentioned. 



The second part of the paper was intended mainly to show what 

 light is thrown upon the theory of the denudation of the Weald by 

 a study of the superficial deposits. After a brief account of pre- 

 vious theories, with objections to the theory of fracture and the 

 marine theory, the authors endeavoured to prove that the gravel and 

 brick-earth (loess) occurring at a very great height above the level of 

 the Medway are old alluvia of that river. If this point be granted, 

 it follows that so large a denudation has been effected by atmo- 

 spheric agencies, i. e. rain and rivers, that, in the opinion of the 

 authors, there will be little difficulty in supposing the present in- 

 equalities of surface in the Weald to have been produced by these 

 agents acting on a comparatively plane surface of marine denuda- 

 tion. A discussion as to the origin of Escarpments then follows. 

 The authors considered that the Escarpments of the Chalk and Lower 

 Greensand which surround the Weald are not sea- cliffs, but are due 

 to the difference of waste of the hard and soft formations under 

 atmospheric denudation. 



June 7, 1865. — W. J. Hamilton, Esq., President, in the Chair. 



The following communications were read : — 



1. "Note on Ovibos moschatus, Blainville." By M. E. Lartet, 

 For. Mem. G.S. Translated by the late H. Christy, Esq., F.R.S., 

 F.G.S. 



A hoof phalange found by Mr. Christy and the author at one of 

 their stations in the Gorge d'Enfer was stated to be identical in 

 form and dimensions with the corresponding bone of the existing 

 Ovibos moschatus, to which species M. Lartet therefore referred it. 

 With it were found remains of Ursus spelmus, Felis spelcea, Wolf, 

 Reindeer, and Aurochs, as well as worked flints differing from those 

 found in any other of the Dordogne caves. The author remarked 

 that the Gorge d'Enfer is the most southern locality at which re- 

 mains of Ovibos moschatus have yet been found, and is 15° south of 

 its most southern limit at the present day ; but the Reindeer has 



