Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 481 



2. " On supposed Glacial markings in the Valley of the Exe, 

 North Devon." By N. Whitley, Esq. 



Mr. Jukes having, in a late paper, mentioned some glacial grooves 

 observed by him in the valley of the Exe, the author stated his 

 opinion that the " Grooves" have been formed by the minor contor- 

 tions of the strata, and not by glacial action. 



3. " On Disturbance of the Level of the Land near Youghal, 

 in the South of Ireland." By A. B. Wynne, Esq., F.G.S. 



The object of this communication was to place upon record 

 certain facts connected with alterations of level in the shore of the 

 South of Ireland, near the town of Youghal. The occurrence of 

 submerged peat beneath the Youghal strand shows that considerable 

 alterations of level have taken place along the coast of Youghal Bay 

 subsequently to the formation of the peat which so commonly covers 

 the Glacial Drift of Ireland. The author also inferred that towards 

 the close of the Glacial period the sea was further from the present 

 land than it is now, that the land then sank to the depth of about 

 90 or 100 feet, and subsequently rose again, but not to its former 

 level ; and, in conclusion, he pointed out the probability of its under- 

 going depression at the present time. 



LXIV. Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles, 



ON THE PASSAGE OF PROJECTILES THROUGH RESISTING MEDIA. 

 BY M. MELSENS. 



I HAVE observed that a lead ball falling through the air into water 

 carries with it a considerable quantity of air. In the case of a 

 spherical ball 17 millims. in diameter, and weighing 29 grammes 

 which fell through a height of a metre into a column of water, it was 

 found that the volume of the air was about twenty times that of the 

 ball. In making the experiment, it was found that part of the air was 

 disengaged before reaching the bottom ; but when it touched, a large 

 bubble was seen to be disengaged, accompanied by a number of 

 smaller bubbles. I imagine I am not far from the truth in assuming 

 that half the air collected is carried to a depth of more than a metre. 



I have endeavoured to investigate the course of the phenomenon 

 in the case of a projectile discharged from a firearm, and passing into 

 water after having traversed a layer of air of a few metres. The fol- 

 lowing is the arrangement of the experiment. 



A metal cylinder placed horizontally is provided with two gradu- 

 ated vertical tubes and a lateral tubulure, by which it can be con- 

 nected with a reservoir of water under a pressure of more than 1 

 metre. One of the ends of the C3 r linder is closed by a thin brass 

 plate, the other by a very thick plate of lead. The apparatus and 

 its tubes being filled with water, a pistol-bullet is fired against the 

 brass plate ; this is thereby perforated ; the water of the cylinder, 

 which is connected with the reservoir of water, jets through the aper- 

 ture formed by the ball ; and it is found that the volume of air which 



