Mr.W. T. Blanford on the Geology of a Portion of Abyssinia. 389 



" tete a museau plus court," and Geoffroy St. Hilaire's Steneosaurus 

 rostro-minor. 



4. " On the Geology of a Portion of Abyssinia." By "William T. 

 Blanford, Esq., P.B.S. &c. 



This paper contained a brief description of the principal geologi- 

 cal observations made by the writer when accompanying the late 

 Abyssinian expedition. After referring to the notices by previous 

 explorers, he gave a list of the different formations met with, viz. : — 



1. liecent Soils on the highlands, including regur or cotton-soil 

 similar to that found in India, and alluvial deposits on the coast. 



2. The volcanic series which skirts both coasts of the southern por- 

 tion of the Bed Sea. This, which was poorly developed on the west 

 coast of Annesley Bay, it was proposed to designate the Aden vol- 

 canic series. 3. The great trappean formations of the Abyssinian 

 highlands, consisting of two groups unconformable to each other — (1) 

 the Magdala group, consisting of trachytes and dolerites, and (2) the 

 Ashangi group, entirely composed of dolerites — both of great thick- 

 ness and formed of bedded volcanic rocks, lavas, and ashes. 4. The 

 Antalo limestone of Oolitic age, containing Oeromya similis, Trigonia 

 costata, and other characteristic forms. 5. Adegrat sandstone, a 

 massive formation occupying a considerable area in Northern Tigre, 

 and perhaps representing the coal-bearing rocks known to exist 

 north-west of Lake Dembea, but unfossiliferous. 6. Metamorphics 

 of varying mineral character, having a general north and south strike, 

 due to preexistent cleavage. Some brief remarks on denudation &c. 

 followed. 



5. " On the Graphite of the Laurentian of Canada." By Prof. J. 

 W. Dawson, LL.D., P.B.S., F.G.S. 



The author described the modes of occurrence of great quantities 

 of graphite in the Laurentian limestones of Canada. He regarded 

 the presence and characters of this mineral as indicative of the ex- 

 istence of plants, side by side with Eozoon, at the period of the de- 

 position of these limestones. 



6. " On the Correlation, Nature, and Origin of the Drifts of 

 North-west Lancashire and part of Cumberland." By D. Mackin- 

 tosh, Esq., E.G.S. 



In this paper the author stated the results of observations made 

 last December, January, and Pebruary, daring prolonged visits to 

 Blackpool, Ulverstone, and Lancaster. At Blackpool repeated exa- 

 minations of the drifts, as exposed on the tidal zone and in the 

 cliffs, convinced him that there is a distinct triplex series — a hard, 

 very stony lower boulder- clay, a middle sand and gravel, and a less 

 stony upper boulder- clay and marl. At Blackpool the author likewise 

 found a newer deposit of warp-clay (or Scotch slutsh) interstratified 

 with and overlain by peat and sand. On the Purness side of More- 

 cambe Bay, the same lower boulder-clay, there called " pinel," 

 made its appearance. After many visits to the section near the 

 Ulverstone railway-station, he convinced himself that the pinel not 

 only contains seams of sand, but overlies a thick bed of finely la- 

 minated sand. It wedges out upwards into an exceedingly con- 



