Notes of British Association Papees. 



49 



a subsidence in the gravelly alluvium of the Clyde ; also to the recent 

 subsidence at Blackheath, near London ; and to the extensive caverns 

 in the hoematite districts of Furness. 



DOWKEEBOTTOM CAVE, CRAYEN. 



Mr. E. B. Poulton, M.A., F.G.S. (Skipton), presented A Pre- 

 liminary Report on the working — now in progress — of Dowkerbottom 

 Cave, in Craven." He stated that the cave was situated about a mile 

 and a half north-west of Kilnsey. It was 1250 feet above the sea, on 

 a terrace on the steep slope of mountain limestone which to the north- 

 east descended to form the moraine-covered south-Avest bank on the 

 river Skirefare, while to the south west it rose higher, to an extensive 

 moorland from fifteen to sixteen hundred feet above the sea. The cave 

 itseK opened upon a level terrace, covered by grass, and sheltered 

 on nearly all sides by rising walls and slopes of weathered limestone. 

 Even on part of the slope towards the river was an outlying mass of 

 rock, which rose far above the level of the ground on which the cave 

 opened. He then proceeded to describe at some length the method of 

 working, &c. Considerable discussion followed. 



HALIFAX HARD COAL SEAM. 

 Mr. W. Cash, F.G.S., of Halifax, gave some information on the 

 Halifax Hard seam, and Mr. James Spencer, of Halifax, read papers 

 respectively on "Researches in Fossil Botany" and "Notes on 

 Astromyelon and its Root." — The Chairman remarked that the series 

 of papers just read furnished valuable information, and the contribu- 

 tions of Mr. Spencer were very creditable as showing what could be 

 done with a very little leisure time and, he believed, small means. 

 (Apf)lause.) — In the course of some discussion, Prof essor Hull said that 

 they would sincerely hope that the life of Professor Williamson, who 

 had just contributed valuable information on the microscopic structure 

 of coal, would be spared to continue and complete his grand series of 

 observations of coal from all parts of the world. (Applause.) He then 

 said that he considered Professor Williamson slightly misapprehended 

 the views of geologists as to the conditions under which beds of coal 

 were formed. He seemed to consider that the plants which formed 

 the coal seams commenced to grow on land surfaces. (Mr. Wethered : 

 No.) Well, he seemed to consider that coal seams were not formed 

 on the spot on which the material grew, but were carried there in a 

 state of aqueous suspension. (Laughter.) — Professor Williamson, in 

 his reply, bore testimony to the aid he had received in his investiga- 



