Proceedings of the British Association* 127 



Section C.— GEOLOGY AND PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



' Report of the Committee for registering earthquake shocks in 

 Scotland.' — The report is confined as usual to the detail of shocks 

 observed by Mr. M'Farlane, at Comrie, in Perthshire. During the 

 last twelve months thirty-seven shocks have been registered, but 

 few were so violent as to produce any effect beyond the neighourhood 

 of the town. The most intense occurred on Sunday the 25th of 

 August 1843, during the morning service, and was felt simultaneously 

 over more than 100 square miles. The Seismometer at Comrie 

 vibrated £ inch W. 



' On a newly discovered species of unio, from the Wealden strata 

 of the Isle of Wight,' by Dr. Mantell. The species of unio described 

 was found near Brook, on the S.W. side of the Isle of Wight, 

 imbedded in the laminated clays and sands of the Wealden formation, 

 which compose the line of cliffs between Freshwater Gate and Brix- 

 ton. They were associated with the wood and branches of conifer- 

 ous trees, and are considered by Dr. Mantell as affording an addi- 

 tional proof that the Wealden deposit was formed in the bed or delta 

 of the river of the country of the Iguanoden, and not in an estuary 

 of the sea. The extensive layers of Paludince Cyclades, and minute 

 freshwater crustaceans (Cyprides) must have been slowly and periodi- 

 cally deposited in tranquil water, either the river bed, or inland lakes 

 connected with the main stream. The species of unio hitherto 

 noticed in the Wealden are small and delicate species, the largest not 

 exceeding two inches in length : the subject of the present memoir, 

 which the author proposes to call U. Valdensis on account of its 

 geological habitat, is a very thick and strong shell, several specimens 

 measuring five inches in breadth, three in length, and two in 

 thickness. 



A paper was read by Prof. Ansted, ' on the importance of preserv- 

 ing mining records,' and to prove that without parliamentary inter- 

 ference, there is no prospect of obtaining or preserving such records. 

 Mr. Sop with stated, that exact information would not only be 

 conducive to the progress of geological science, but of the highest 

 importance to the general interests of the country. The subject had 

 been brought before the Association at Newcastle : a committee was 



