Geological Society. 159 



Some of the minerals in meteorites, usually considered to be the 

 same as those in volcanic rocks, have yet very characteristic differ- 

 ences in structure (Stannern), which I shall describe at greater length 

 on a future occasion. I will then also give a full account of the mi- 

 croscopical structure of meteoric iron as compared with that produced 

 by various artificial processes, showing that under certain conditions 

 the latter may be obtained so as to resemble very closely some varied- 

 ties of meteoric origin (Newstead, &c). 



There are thus certain peculiarities in physical structure which 

 connect meteorites with volcanic rocks, and at the same time others 

 in which they differ most characteristically, — facts which I think 

 must be borne in mind, not only in forming a conclusion as to the 

 origin of meteorites, but also in attempting to explain volcanic action 

 in general. The discussion of such questions, however, should, I 

 think, be~deferred until a more complete account can be given of all 

 the data on which these conclusions are founded. 



GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



[Continued from p. 75.] 

 May 11, 1864. — W. J. Hamilton, Esq., President, in the Chair. 

 The following communications were read : — 



1. " On a Section with Mammalian Remains near Thame." By 

 T. Codrington, Esq., F.G.S. 



A railway-cutting through a hill between Oxford and Thame 

 having exposed a section of certain gravel-beds, from which many 

 Mammalian remains were collected, the author now gave a short 

 description of the section and a list of the bones he had obtained 

 from it. The hill is nearly surrounded by the Thame and two small 

 tributaries, and consists of Kimmeridge clay capped by a bed of 

 coarse gravel overlain by sandy clay. The gravel consists of 

 chalk-flints, pebbles derived from the Lower Greensand, and frag- 

 ments of mica-schist, &c, indicating a northern-drift origin ; it con- 

 tained many bones of Elephant, Rhinoceros, Horse, Ox, and Deer, 

 and a single phalanx of a small carnivore, but no flint implements 

 were discovered. 



2. " On a Deposit at Stroud containing Flint Implements, Land 

 and Freshwater Shells, &c." By E. Witchell, Esq., F.G.S. 



In the construction of a reservoir near the summit of the hill 

 above the town of Stroud, the author observed, about two feet from 

 the surface, a deposit of tufa containing Land- shells, with a few 

 freshwater Bivalves ; in it he subsequently discovered several flint- 

 flakes of a primitive type, and in the overlying earth a few pieces of 

 rude pottery. 



3. " On the White Limestone of Jamaica, and its associated in- 

 trusive rocks." By A. Lennox, Esq., F.G.S., late of the Geolo- 

 gical Survey of Jamaica. 



The White Limestone of Jamaica was described as including a 

 basement series of sandstones and shales, a hard white limestone, a 

 yellowish limestone, and an uppermost member consisting of dark- 

 red marl ; it was estimated to be at least 2500 feet thick ; and the 



