MONTHLY NOTICE. 131 



valuable discussion ensued, on the comparative merits of the 

 terms Cumbrian, Cambrian, and Silurian. If we recollect 

 aright^ Mr. Greenough contended that a Cumbrian rock 

 with Silurian fossils, was an anomaly, and judged from the 

 author's paper, that the Cambrian strata, and the so called 

 Cumbrian rocks, were quite or nearly identical ; he could not, 

 therefore, assent to the application of another term to those 

 strata, which Geologists already understood by the appella- 

 tion of" Cambrian rocks." The pro's" and con's" were 

 not, however, equally sustained, and we were much pleased 

 with the learned Professor's brief acknowledgment, after long 

 addresses from Messrs. Greenough, Fitton, Marchison, and 

 others, that his communication was only to be considered the 

 outline of one much more elaborate and explicit in its de- 

 tails, and " for what it concerned him, they 7nig7it call the 

 rocks what they pleased.'' We contend, that with such an 

 opinion expressed by the learned Professor himself, the 

 Society should have hesitated to record the title of " Cum- 

 brian rocks," in their published abstract of the proceedings 

 of that evening (3rd of November 1841) ; or had they con- 

 sidered it indelicate to alter the phraseology of the author, 

 it was but justice that some remark should have been ap- 

 pended to the effect stated, which might caution Geologists 

 against the reception of the title. We do not observe any 

 notice in the published proceedings (which has, of late, been 

 so usually appended to those of Societies generally), to the 

 effect, that " as a body, this Society cannot be responsible 

 for the opinions expressed in the various memoirs ;" but 

 against such innovations no plea can be urged with any pro- 

 priety. A Society, when it offers an opinion, to which there 

 is no opposition, even on the part of the author of the state- 

 ment under consideration, is in duty bound to make it 

 pubKc. Our portfolio has teemed of late with letters from 

 our German correspondents, concerning these local appella- 



