PROCEEDINGS OF GEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES. 
157 
Lower Lias formation. This latter portion is of great interest, on account of 
the numerous fossils contained in some of the thin beds of limestone, etc., 
found there ; one of the lowest beds of the Lias in this section being a thin 
stratum of calcareous conglomerate, containing a very great abundance of 
reptilian bones, coprolites, and fish-remains, known as the "bone-bed." 
Febmarij 12, 1861. — The President read his annual address. After review- 
ing the progress of the Society, and giving a sketch of the geology of Liver- 
pool and the surrounding district, he proceeded to describe the leading geolo- 
gical and palseontological discoveries of the past year, dwelling more particularly 
on the very interesting facts elucidated in Erance by Messieurs Lartet, Gosse, 
De Yibraye, and De Verneuil in connection with that great scientific question 
of the day, " the geological age of man." 
" On tiie Geology of the Arctic Regions." By David Walker, Esq., M.D., 
r.R.G.S. 
This paper was the result of the author's observations during the voyage of 
the " Fox," in search of Sir John Tranklin. He stated that on approaching 
the coast of South Greenland, the appearance of the mountains at once shows 
their igneous origin, being composed of granite, gneiss, and mica-schist, with 
occasional intervals of quartzose rock. After proceeding along a coast-line of 
five hundi-ed miles, the volcanic rocks appear. These are first seen at Disco 
Island, and continue with a few interruptions as far north as the expedition 
reached. The precise formation of the land between Jones' Sound and Lan- 
caster Sound is not known, but from its tabular appearance it is most likely 
Upper Silurian Limestone, as occurs further westward in Barrow Strait. 
To the southward of Lancaster Sound, Silurian Limestone appears as far as 
Possession Bay, when the primary and metamorphic rocks make their appear- 
ance. Beyond Croker's Bay, as far westward as visited, the formation is 
Upper Silurian Limestone ; the hills presenting tabulated fronts to the sea, 
with deep ravines intervening, rendering the hills cone-shaped. The shore of 
Barrow Strait is also made up of similar cone-shaped hills of Silurian Lime- 
stone. The west coast of Regent Inlet is of the same formation, but the fronts 
to seaward are mucli more elevated than on the north side of Barrow Strait. 
Prom Pury Point south to Bellot Strait the elevation of the land fronting the 
sea gradually decreases until it is seen lying against the granite, which forms 
a back-bone. 
The author exhibited many specimens of the fossils he had collected from 
the Upper Silurian limestone described — Arctic species of the genera Loxo- 
nema, Encrinurus, Spirifer, Atri/pa-, BJu/ncho}iella, etc. The resemblance of the 
specimens to those of Dudley and Colebrookdale is very remarkable. The 
presence of raised beaches and of Tertiary coal was also dilated upon, 
Malvern Natural History Pield Club. — The unfavourable weather of last 
year prevented the appointment of any Pield Meeting earlier than the 15th of 
May, when a joint meeting of the Malvern and Worcester Clubs at Eastnor 
took place. The first move was to the line of the Worcester and Hereford 
Railway, striking it at tlie east end of the Ledbury tunnel, where a shaft had 
been sunk in the Ludlow rocks of the Silurian system, from the spoil banks of 
which Mr. Stephen Ballard, the engineer, explained'the course to be taken by 
the line, while the geologists broke into the line with eager determination, but 
neither here or at an adjacent quarry of Aymestry limestone was any thing 
taken, except a stray Lingida. Since this time, however, the spoil has become 
much more productive.* The party moved on to the open cutting in front of 
the tuimel at May Hill, where the -'Passage beds," between the Silurian 
* AU the excavated material is t o be sent down the shaft, and if well searched at that time 
will doubtless afford many valuable specimens. 
