160 
THE GEOLOGIST. 
information to those who require it, and we shall always be obliged to our 
readers and correspondents for any additional matter. 
Earliest Rain-Drops. — E. R. J. (Farnborough). — "I shall be much obliged 
if you will inform me, through the medium of your Geological Journal, which is 
the earliest strata that shows marks of rain-drops ? I have seen it stated that 
they are found as early as the Old Red Sandstone ; which, if it be so, seems to 
raise a difficulty in connection with Genesis ii., 5, where it is written that no 
rain had fallen up to the carboniferous period. I should also be glad to know 
whether there is anything like a descriptive catalogue of the Geological contents 
of the British Museum to be had." — Rain-drops have been found in the lowest of 
all fossilifcrous rocks, the " Longmynd, or Bottom rocks" of Shropshire, by Mr. 
Salter. Wherever sedimentary deposits have been going on, there has been 
evaporation of the surface-water, and atmospheric condensation or rain. One 
condition necessitates another, and co-existent at least with the evidences of 
life must be the records of atmospheric phenomena. There is no official 
descriptive catalogue of the fossils in the British Museum. The late Dr. Mautell's 
" Petrifactions and their Teachings," published by Bohn, was designed as a 
hand-book to the gallery of organic remains, and will be found of great use to 
the student both there and at home. 
Exchange of Fossils. — Extract of a letter from E. Wood, Esq., F. G. S. 
Richmond, Yorkshire. — " Will it be in accordance with the rules of your admirably 
conducted journal, to state publicly what I shf aid require a secretary to do pri- 
vately, that the now Crinoids, figured and described in your first number, have 
a 1 been discovered, .and every specimen disseminated by myself ? The only quarry 
in which they are found is being worked purposely, and much labour expended in 
the excavations. About six perfectly distinct species of the first-named genus 
have been examined and named by my learned friend, Professor de Koninck, and 
recently another new and very beautiful genus has been added to the 
list, on which the Professor has just read a paper in Paris, calling it 
Hydreioiiocrinm ; this species I hope to enable you to figure very soon. What I 
wish your readers — and their name must be legion — to know is, that being engaged 
in the formation of a good private collection of British fossils, I shall be always 
glad to distribute my duplicate specimens, in the way of " friendly exchange," 
and that tlie senders of good specimens from British localities will be sure to re- 
ceive a liberal return of, at all events, the type species." 
Note — The Editor will be happy at all times to promote the interchange of 
specimens, and to afford any assistance and facilities which his capacity enables him 
to do in the formation of public or private collections. For the description of the 
genus Woodocrinus referred to, see the article by Professor de Koninck, and Mr. 
Ed. Wood, page 12. 
E. A.W. (Sidcot, near Weston-super-Mare). — "Respected Friend, — Having dis- 
covered about a year ago, at Chedder Cliffs, a fossil called Beechite, I should feel 
thankful if thou wouldst give me any information respecting it — to what class of 
animals does it belong ? what are its habits? and where is it generally found ? 
The above mentioned was taken from the mountain limestone. In reading the 
Geologist, No. II , I met with the term ' Geodcs' ; may I trouble thee to ex- 
plain it ? How are the Naturalists' Field Clubs conducted ? " — Beekites are 
rolled fossils of the Devonian rocks, embedded in New Red Conglomerate, 
afterwards coated with chalcedony, and subsequently the original fossil has 
decayed, leaving a cavity. A notice of them will be found in the " Report of 
the British Association, for 1856," sect. p. 74. Our correspondent's fossil 
is not, we fancy, a true Beekite ; but, as we have neither description nor 
drawing to guide us, we cannot, of course, make any decision. There are some- 
what similar bodies called " potato-stones," found in the mountain limestone and 
red sandstone of the Mendip Hills. These are more or less globular, hollow, sili- 
ceous bodies, their inner surfaces often exhibiting beautiful crystals of silex (quartz), 
lime, barytes, &c. Geodesare merely nodular concretions of earthy matter, whether 
