100 
THE GEOLOGIST. 
J. Hamilton, Esq., F.E.S. ; Warington W. Smyth, Esq., M.A., F.'R.S. 
Foreign Secretary — Hugh Falconer, jM.D., F.U.S. Treasure) — Joseph 
Prestwich, Esq., F.E.S. Council — John J. Bigsby, M.D. ; George Busk, 
Esq., F.E.S. ; Eobert Chambers, Esq., F.E.S.E. and L.S. ; Sir P. G. Eger- 
tou, Bart., M.P., F.E.S. ; John Evans, Esq., F.S.A. ; Eev. Eobert Everest ; 
Hugh Falconer, M.D., F.E.S. ; E. A. C. Godwin- Austen, Esq., F.E.S.; 
William John Hamilton, Esq., F.E.S. ; Leonard Horner, Esq., F.E.S. L. 
and E. ; Professor T. H. Huxley, F.E.S. ; Sir Charles Lyell, F.E.S. and 
L.S. ; Eobert Mallet, Esq., C.E., F.E.S. ; Edward Meryon, M.D. ; John 
Carrick Moore, Esq., F.E.S. ; Professor John Morris ; Eobert TT. Mylne, 
Esq., F.E.S. ; Joseph Prestwich, Esq., F.E.S. ; Professor A. C. Eamsay, 
F.E.S. ; Warington W. Smyth, Esq., M.A.. F.E.S. ; Alfred Tylor, Esq., 
F. L.S.; Eev. Thomas Wiltshire, M.A. ; S. P. Woodward, Esq. The 
members that retired from the Council were :— Sir Eoderick Murchison; 
G. P. Scrope, Esq. ; John Lubbock, Esq. ; the Earl of Enniskillen ; and 
Sir Charles Banbury. 
Manchester Geological Society. — Dccemher iiOth. — " On the Car- 
boniferous rocks of Shap and Crosby Eavensworth." By J. S. Bland, Esq. 
The rocks considered in this paper are a series of the Lower Carbonife- 
rous or mountain limestone, on the east side of the Lake Mountains in 
Westmoreland. These, it is well known, flank the old slate rocks of which 
the mountains are formed, on nearly all sides ; but most regularly in the 
north-west, north, and north-east ; running from Egremont by Brighara, 
Ireby, Greystoke, Lowther, Shap, Orton, to Eavenstonedale. Mr. Binney 
describes a portion, or section of this series, in the vicinit}" of Shap and 
Crosby Eavensworth, across to the New Eed Sandstone in the neighbour- 
hood of Applebj'-. The New Eed Sandstone, in its turn, overlies the Carbo- 
niferous series, covering the whole of the north of Cumberland, from Mary- 
port, around by Penrith, Ormside, to Kirkby Stephen, which is the ex- 
treme southern point it reaches. From there the line runs back by Brough, 
and the side of the Crossfell range, to Brampton, in Cumberland, and so 
northwards into Scotland. 
About a mile from Shap Wells, are Wasdale Crags, the crest of a great 
mountain mass of porphyritic granite ; flanking this, on the N. and N.E. 
sides, are the Lower Silurian, or green slate rocks ; on the S. and S.E., are 
the Coniston series of flags, also considered as Lower Silurian, but of 
later formation ; lying between these, is the Coniston limestone, described 
by Professor Sedgwick as. running in an almost direct line from Arable- 
side. From the granite rocks northwards, across West Sleddale, the green 
slates occur ; after wliich, as far north as Eosgill Moor, are a series of 
dark shaly slates, similar in character to the Skiddaw slates. In some 
beds Graptolites have been found by Professor Harkness. To the N. and 
W. again, are the green slate rocks ; these, each in their position, are over- 
laid, unconformably by the Old Eed Sandstone, or where it is wanting, by 
the Carboniferous series. These rocks, therefore, formed the dry land, 
against which the waves of the Old Eed Sandstone sea made tlieir last throws, 
— a wild and barren coast. The Old Eed Sandstone, lying upon each of the 
different series enumerated, represents a coast-line, nearly at right angles 
to that of the Coniston group of deposits ; consequently, a great change in 
the relative position of land and water must have taken place about the 
close of the Silurian era ; of which, Shap granite has in tliis district been the 
disturbing power. The Old Eed Sand>^tone from Shap Wells south to Tebay, 
is a considerable thickness of dark red sandstone, with conglomerates above. 
From Shap Wells, northwards, its position is indicated by conglomerate 
and red shales, evidently the deposits of an ancient shore ; the best sections 
