GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



211 



40° Fahrenheit^ with the exception of the second, which, 

 from its anomalous nature, probably contains some error. 



In conclusion, I have to state, that I am aware of no rea- 

 son that can satisfactorily account for the temperature of 

 the sea decreasing with the depth in lower latitudes than 70°, 

 whilst in higher, the reverse is the case ; except that the 

 waters of the ocean are similarly influenced by heat with 

 fresh water, and are also at their greatest density near to the 

 temperature of 40° Fahrenheit. 



On the conclusion of the paper, a long and interesting 

 discussion took place ; after which, the Rev. Robert Wallace 

 moved, and Mr. Binney seconded a vote of thanks to Mr. 

 Harkness, for his valuable communication. — A vote of 

 thanks having been given to Captain Brown, for his services 

 in the chair, the meeting terminated. 



GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



May 4th,^ Mr. Murchison, President, in the chair. — The 

 following communications were read : 



1. A letter by Mr. Ick on some superficial deposits near 

 Birmingham. 



In excavating a canal in the valley of the Rea, at Saltby, 

 1| mile N.E. of Birmingham, a peaty deposit, containing 

 trunks and branches of trees and hazel nuts, was dis- 

 covered under five feet of superficial detritus, and in the 

 same bed were also found, stags^ horns, apparently of the 

 existing species {Cervus elephas), likewise the core of the 

 horn of an ox, one foot in circumference at the base, and 

 one foot eight inches in length. This carbonaceous deposit 

 reposes on the usual marine drift of the district, and is over- 

 laid by a bed of variable thickness, of fine, white, or mottled 

 clay, above which occurs the superficial detritus. 



VOL. I. NO. VII. Q 



