PROCEEDINGS  OF  TETE  GEOLOGICAL  SOCEETY. 
5 
T°l-  49-] 
and  generally  similar  to  the  Himalayan  rocks.  It  is  a  remarkable 
fact  that  some  or  the  most  notable  of  the  Buddhist  monasteries  of 
Zanskar  and  $uru  are  built  on  the  line  of  outcrop  of  these  rocks. 
Pooktal.  Thonde,  and  Eingdom  monasteries  are  examples  :  and  while 
the  trap  forms  one  of  the  best  geological  landmarks  throughout  a 
large  part  of  the  Korth-westem  Himalayas,  it  would  also  seem  to 
have  some  especial  interest  for  large  numbers  of  Buddhist  priests, 
who  have  elected  to  build  their  monasteries  and  to  live  upon  it. 
Messrs.  Topley,  Hende.  and  Whttattkr  also  spoke. 
The  Author  accounted  for  the  change  of  species  between  the  Cre¬ 
taceous  and  Eocene  Limestones,  as  determined  by  Zitteh  by  supposing 
that  at  the  close  of  the  Cretaceous  period  the  sea-bed  had  been 
elevated  into  a  land-surface — but  without  ffexuring — owing  to  which 
the  life-forms  of  the  Cretaceous  ocean  were  destroyed,  and  upon  re¬ 
submergence  new  forms  entered  from  the  outer  ocean :  in  this  way 
there  would  be  no  appreciable  discordance  of  stratification,  but  com¬ 
plete  change  of  species.  As  regards  the  .origin  of  the  saddle  in  the 
Arabah  Valiev,  he  believed  it  was  formed  during  the  formation  of 
•  *  o 
the  valley  itself,  not  subsequently  :  the  valley  contracted  very  much 
at  the  saddle. 
In  reply  to  Mr.  Topley*  s  question,  the  Author  stated  he  had  been 
informed  that  there  was  a  verv  distinct  terrace  of  gravel  near  the  Lake 
of  Huleh,  corresponding  in  level  with  that  in  the  Arabah  Y alley  ; 
about  1200  feet  above  the  Head  Sea  surface  the  intermediate 
representatives  of  this  terrace  may  be  found,  but  doubtless  had  been 
to  a  large  extent  swept  away  by  floods  and  rains. 
In  attempting  to  account  for  the  difference  between  the  faunas  of 
the  Eed  Sea  and  Mediterranean,  it  would  be  clear  that  once  the 
Isthmus  of  Suez  had  been  converted  into  land,  and  the  seas  dis¬ 
severed.  differentiation  would  begin  and  proceed  till  all  the  forms 
unsuited  to  each  had  disappeared :  difference  in  the  temperature  of 
the  waters  of  the  two  seas  would  be  the  chief  cause  of  differentiation. 
2.  “  The  Base  of  the  Leuper  Lormation  in  Devon."  By  the 
Eev.  A.  Irving.  B.A.,  D.Se.,  EXES. 
3.  44  The  Marls  and  Clavs  of  the  Maltese  Islands."  Bv  John 
H.  Cooke,  Esq..  B.Sc.,  E.H.S. 
Specimens  of  breccia  were  exhibited  by  the  Eev.  A.  Irvine:.  B.A.. 
D.Se.,  E.CES.,  in  illustration  of  his  paper. 
December  7th.  1S92. 
YT.  H.  Htulestox,  Esq..  M.A..  E.E.S.,  President,  in  the  Chair. 
Eobert  Aird.  Esq.,  M.A.,  Killean  Place,  Campbeltown.  X.B. ; 
Charles  Anthony  Benn,  Esq.,  B.A.,  Inner  Temple,  E.C.,  and  Pudle- 
ston  Court,  Leominster  :  Arthur  Laumcelot  Collins,  Esq.,  Kabul, 
