162 
THE GEOLOGIST. 
Walton, given in the stratigraphical charts as the ear-bone of Balajna emarginata. 
What is known of this animal ? and from what part of the body does this bone come ? 
I imagine it is named from its shape, which is like that of an elongated human ear. 
I fear my questions must seem very trivial to experienced geologists, but they may 
have occurred to other beginners, who, like myself, would be glad to have them 
answered." — It is not easy always to state the source of iron in rocks. One might 
generally attribute the presence of that metal to the disintegration and waste of 
the previously existing rock-masses. The crag most probably derived its ferrugi- 
nous character from the oxides of iron which extensively permeate the London clays, 
and from the dark brown beds at the base of the London tertiaries, which are as 
rich in iron as many valuable ores. The fossil to which a Young Inquirer refers 
is really a cetotolite, or ear-bone (os petrosum) of a kind of whale. Otolites is 
a term applied to the little loose internal bones in the ears of fishes ; these, from 
their hard structure, often resist decay. The hard bone coincident with the eai-- 
bone in mammals, the os petrosum, being of a harder substance than the rest, 
is also often preserved in the fossil state. 
EEPORTS OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF GEOLOGICAL 
SOCIETIES. 
Geological Society cf London. — February 19, 1858, Annual General Meeting. 
Major-Gen. Portlock, President, in the chair. After the usual reports were read 
and adopted. 
The President announced the award of a WoUaston medal to Herr Hermann 
von Meyer, of Frankfort-on- Maine ; and in doing so, alluded to Von Meyer's 
successful Palseontological labours during the last twenty-five years. Sir G. Lyell 
having been requested by the President to transmit the medal to Herr v. Meyer, 
stated that it would give him great pleasure to take charge of the medal which 
had been awarded to his distinguished friend; to some of whose works he then 
particularly alluded, especially the great monographs on the Carboniferous, Per- 
mian, and Triassic Reptiles. 
The President then announced the award of another WoUaston medal, and the 
balance of the proceeds of the WoUaston Fund to Mr. James Hall, For. Mem. G.S., 
the State Geologist of New York, and requested Sir Roderick Murchison to trans- 
mit it to the Medallist, of whose long-continued and successful labours among the 
PaliBozoic rocks and fossils, and of whose important services to Geological Science, 
Sir Roderick then spoke warmly, expressing the gratification he felt in the adjudi- 
cation of the highest honour the Society can bestow to so eminent an American 
geologist. 
The President proceeded to read his Anniversary Address, and commenced with 
biographical notices of some of the lately deceased fellows and foreign members 
of the Society, particularly the Very Rev. Dean Conybcare, the Earl of EUesmere, 
Mr. H. J. Brooke, Mr. Joshua Trimmer, Mr. W. Bald, M. Dumont, M. Dufrunoy, 
M. A. d'Orbigny, and others. 
The ballot for the Council and Officers was taken, and the following were duly 
elected for the ensuing year :— President, Prof John Phillips, M.A., LL.D., F.R.S. 
Vice-Presidents, John J. Bigsby, M.D. ; Hugh Falconer, M.D., F.R.S. ; Leonard 
Horner, Esq., F.R.S.L. and E. ; t^ir R. L Murchison. G.C. St. S., F.R.S. and L.S. 
Secretaries, Thomas Davidson, Esq., F.R.S.; Warrington W. Smyth, Esq., M.A. 
Foreign Secretary, William John HamiltQn, Esq., F.R.S. Treasurer, Joseph Prest- 
wich, Esq., F.R.S. 
