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THE GEOLOGIST. 



The correspondence in full we shall hold at the service of the geologist 

 seeking the information from our readers and correspondents. We think 

 it cannot but bo apparent at all, how much real work is to be done 

 b}' the means we are now proposing, and we trust our attempt will be 

 well and promptly supported. The importance of the subject of Mr. 

 Prestwich's letter v^ill, without doubt, secure that cordial co-operation 

 of piovincial geologists vrhich it richly merits. 



To tlie Editor of the Geologist. 

 Sir, — Amongst the many interesting problems we have to investi- 

 gate, and that are, now in particular, attracting the attention of 

 geologists, is that which relates to the character of the fauna inhabiting 

 this land during some of the later geological periods. Those only 

 Avho have worked at this subject can form any idea of the vast number 

 of elephants, rhinoceroses, oxen, deer, &c., which must, at more than 

 one period, have flourished in this country on surfaces now buried 

 beneath drift and gravel. Occasionally their bones are met with in A^ry 

 large quantities, but their distribution is very irregular and uncertain. 

 The fact of their occurrence, however, frequently remains unknown 

 beyond the place where the discovery is made, and the knowledge of 

 such facts is too often lost or forgotten for want of a convenient and ready 

 record.'" Your pages could afford, Sir, exactly the facilities required. 

 Thus it would be of great use, and I, for my own part, should 

 feel particularly obliged if any of your correspondents in dif- 

 ferent parts of the country could furnish us with information on 

 this point. I would confine myself more especially to the occur- 

 rence of the bones of elephants (the teeth and tusks being so easily 

 recognised), although, at the same time, any information respecting the 

 bones of other animals would be very acceptable; and I would ask for 

 a mention of their occurrence — naming place, cl^aracter of deposit, depth 

 beneath the surface, position — whether in valley or on hill — &c. Such 

 information jou might tabulate monthly or quarterly, mentioning the 

 authority. Or what would form a still more valuable record would 

 be, that resident correspondents should each take a county and give a 

 list of places where such remains are or have been found. Wo 

 particularly require information in this respect Avith reference to Nor- 

 thumberland, Lancashire, Cumberland, Cheshire, and other northern 

 counties, althougli in the more southern counties the same particu- 

 lars are, also, in many cases equally required. An additional interest 

 now attaches to this subject, from the circumstance that there are 

 indications of each different stage of this Pleistocene period having 

 been marked by different species of elephant, &c. If these species can 

 be distinguished by the aid of Dr. Falconer's forthcoming paper in the 

 * ' Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society," the information fur- 

 nished will be the more valuable.— I am, Sir, yours truly, 



Joseph Peestwich. 



10 Kent Terrace, 11th May, 1858. 



_ * There is a case iu point in another communication I liavc sent you. In that 

 in^stuucc I happened to visit a. gravel-pit, opened only temporarily, and find remains 

 ol elophauts, of Avhich no record would have bccu prciscrvcd but for my chan<?o 

 visit. 



