1848.] 



the late Dr. A. T. CJuisiie, 



153 



From Palermo, in a letter to Professor Jameson, dated Slst May,^ 

 he communicated a notice of scrae curious caves in the neighbour- 

 hood of that city, containing diluvial remains of the large extinct 

 mammalia, which, unlike those of Kirkdale described by Professor 

 Buckland, occurred as constituents of a breccia, in some cases sitter- 

 imposed on more recent quaternaiy formations, containing shells 

 identical with those now existing in the Mediterranean. A more 

 extended description of the same phenomena, transmitted to Sir R. 

 J. Murchison, President of the Geological Society, was read before 

 that body on the 2d November, and appeared in the Edinburgh Phi- 

 losophical Journal for 1631-32. 



the most efficient manner, he has, during his residence in Edinburgh, 

 continued his studies in Geology with unabated zeal and that, lateiy,"he 

 ha? spent a year in France, and other countries on the continent of Eu- 

 rope, in enlarging his acquaintance with Geology and other branches cf 

 Natural History. 



"We have therefore much pleasure in certifying that, in our opinion. 

 Dr. Alexander TurnbuU Christie is emineniiy qualified to undertake and 

 execute, not only the important duties of a geological surveyor, but also, 

 from his intimate acquaintance with Meteorology, Botany, and Zoology, 

 of adding to the interest and value of his Geological reports, by scientific 

 and practical observations and views in regard to the climate, and the 

 characters and uses of the vegetable and animal productions of the vaiious 

 countries he may examine or pass through. 



(Signed) Egbert Jameson*, 

 Regius Professor cf Xafural HUtory, and Lecturer on Mineralooy, Sec. 



The undersigned, Member of the Paris Academy of Sciences, Profes- 

 sor of Mineralogy at the Eoyal Museum of Natural History, 6zc., most 

 willingly gives testimony of the assiduity and application,' -vr'nh which. 

 Mr. Christie attended his courses of Mineralogy at the Museum: and it 

 gives him pleasure to state the frequent, long, and a long lime conti- 

 nued visits made to him by Mr. Cnristie at his private geological cabi- 

 net, for the purposes of studying there the specimens of rocKs. earths, 

 and fossil organic bodies it contains and he has no doubt that the firuit 

 to Mr. Christie, from this study and application, has been the acquire- 

 ment of knowledge suitable for the success of the pursuits and labors he 

 may undertake, and for which this kind of knovrledge is necessary. 



Pasis, 1st Jtlarch, ISoO. (Signed) Alex. Beo>-gniailt. 



I hereby certify that Mr. Christie of Edinburgh attended assiuuouslr, 

 and with advantage, my course of Mineralogy at^the Paris Eoyal School 

 of Mines, in the autumn and winter of the year 1529. 



(Signed) Bbochant de Viluers, 



Member of the Royal Academy qfSciene^s. ic. 



Ta^Is, 5th March, 1^30. 



TCL. iV. >-0 XiXir, 



• Edm. Fhil. Journal, 153h p. 252. 

 U 



