252 
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 be apparent at all, how much real work is to be done 
by tlie means we are now proposing, and we trust our attempt will bo 
well and promptly supported. The importance of the subject of Mr. 
Prestwich's letter will, without doubt, secure that cordial co-operation 
of piovincial geologists which it richly merits. 
To the 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 
who have worked at this subject can form an}- idea of the vast number 
of elephants, rhinoceroses, oxen, doer, &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 very 
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, character of deposit, depth 
beneath the surface, position — whether in valley or on hill — &c. Such 
information j^ou 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 arc or have been found. We 
particularly require information in this respect with reference to Nor- 
thumberland, Lancashire, Cumberland, Cheshire, and other northern 
counties, although 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 distinguislied 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 Ma}', 1858. 
* There is a case in point in nnotlici- communication I have sent you. In that 
instance I liappencJ to visit a gravel-pit, opened only temporarily, and find remains 
of elephants, of which no record >Yould have been preserved but for my chance 
visit. 
