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THE GEOLOGIST. 



November 20— 1. "On ilic Bovey Basin, Devonshire." By J. H. Key, 

 Esq., communicated by Sir C. Lyell, E.G.S. 



The author first described the physical features of the Bovey Basin, and then 

 the strata, as proved by borings and diggings for clay and lignite. Having 

 pointed out the evidences that exist of the basin having once been a lake m 

 which the several strata of clay, sand, lignite, gravel, &c, were deposited, and 

 having considered the probable conditions of such a lake having been gradually 

 filled up by fluviatile deposits brought down from neighbouring granitic hills, 

 the author remarked : — 1st. That the Bovey deposits are composed of materials 

 almost identical with the component parts of granite. 2. The strata run, for 

 the most part, parallel with the outline of the marginal hills, and dip from the 

 sides towards the centre, often thinning away in that direction. 3. The finer 

 material is deposited towards the sides, and the coarser towards the centre. 

 4. Where the basin is contracted the finer beds often disappear ; but thicken 

 where the basin widens. 5. That the upper beds of the northern part are 

 coarser than those of the middle and lower portions. 6. On the eastern side 

 the fine clay beds are more developed than on the western side. 7. The 

 various beds run in the direction of, and seem to point to, the River Bovey as 

 the source from whence they were derived ; but the old outlet of the lake was 

 towards Torbay, and not aiong the Teign as it is at present. Some observa- 

 tions on the peculiar absence of animal remains in these deposits, often rich 

 with vegetable remains, concluded the paper, which was illustrated by several 

 original plans, sections, and sketches. 



2. " On two Volcanic Cones at the Base of Etna." By Signor G. G. Gem- 

 mellaro. Communicated by Sir C. Lyelt, E.G.S. 



These two cones occur at Paterno and Motta (Sta. Anastasia) ; and the 

 existing remains of their craters and nuclei were described in detail. The 

 author concludes that these two were contemporaneous doleritic volcanic 

 cones, that were formed in the Post-pliocene period, previous to the depo- 

 sition of calcareous tuff of the vicinity of Paterno : 'also that they were cones 

 of eruption, and not of elevation; for the neighbouring strata are not dis- 

 turbed : and thas they were independent eruptions, and not parasitical cones of 

 Etna. 



3. On some Eossil Brachiopoda of the Carbiniferous Hocks of the Punjab 

 and Kashmir, collected by A. Fleming, M.D., &c, and W. Purdon, Esq., 

 E,G.S." By T. Davidson, Esq., E.R.S., E.G.S. 



Dr. Fleming's geological researches on the Salt-range and elsewhere in the 

 Punjab, in 1842-52, are recorded in the Journal of the Society, for 1853, in the 

 Journ. Bengal Asiat. Soc. 1163, and in his Report on the Salt-range, 1854. 

 The species of Carboniferous Brachiopoda collected by Dr. Elemhig and de- 

 scribed _ and figured by Mr. Davidson, are Ter Jratula (vel Waldheimia) 

 WUmingii, Dav., T. problematica, Dav., T. subvesicularis, Dav., Retzia radialis, 

 vm. gmmdicosta, Dav. At hp-is Royssii, L'Ev., A. (vel Merista) subtilita, Hall, 

 var. grandis, Dav., Spin/era strirta, Martin, Spiriferim octoplicata, Sow., 

 Orthis rcmpiaaUi, Martin, Streptorhjuclius cremstria, Phil., var. robnstus, Hall, 

 Sf, pect inifw'm k } Dav., Prodnctus striates, Eisch., P. longispinus, Sow., P con- 

 tortus. Sow. 



Mr. Purdon's collection comprises, besides several of the foregoing — Tere- 

 hratufa Himalayemis, Dav., Spirifcra MoosaJeailensis, Dav., Sp. lineata, Martin, 

 var., (\tmarnplioria Purdomi, Dav., Produdm Purdomi, Dav. P. I-Inmboldtii, 

 D'Orb., Aulosteges Dalhousii, Dav., and Strophahsia Morrisiana (?) King, var. 



Geologists' Association. — The first meeting of this Association for the 

 winter session was held on Monday, November 4, at Cavendish Square, the 

 Rev. Thomas Wiltshire, M.A., E.G.S., President, in the Chair, and was very 

 numerously attended. Thirteen new members were elected. 



