364 
THE GEOLOGIST. 
similar to the Neocomian of Europe were actually contemporaneous Trith 
the latter formation, or merely homotaxical and representative of it, was 
not the question I proposed to deal with. The general sequence of animal 
life is admittedly the same in either case ; and whether the Neocomian in 
South America was or was not contemporaneous with the Neocomian in 
Europe, still it would have to be considered in comparative geology as 
Neocomian, at all events until some better nomenclature could be decided 
on. If Belemnites are not found above the Chalk, in Europe, it is pro- 
bable they M ill not be found above the homotaxical representatives in 
South America of the Chalk. 
I trust that this explanation will prove satisfactory to Mr. Lankester 
and to those of your readers who may take an interest in the matter. 
I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 
E. Lechmeee Guppy. 
Port of Spain, Trinidad, July 2Sth, 1863. 
Former Sigher Temperature of the Earth v. Atmospheric Pressure. 
Sir, — The Eev. James Brodie, at the late British Association Meeting, 
stated that if at any time the earth had been subjected to a great increase of 
temperature, it necessarily implied an immense increase of pressure in the 
atmosphere. A slight increase, he said, would double the atmospheric 
pressure. Can you, Sir, inform me the grounds of the assertion, and the 
reasons why the atmospheric pressure would be augmented by the in- 
crease of internal heat F Perhaps Mr. Brodie would condescend to en- 
lighten myself and others of your readers who may be in the same igno- 
rance as myself upon this very interesting subject, if you. Sir, cannot or 
decKne to give us the explanation. Yours respectfully, 
PULEX. 
Taunton, Uh Sejjtemher, 1863. 
BEITISH ASSOCIATION MEETING AT NEAVCASTLE. 
The Section of Geology was under the Presidency of Mr. Warington 
W. Smyth. 
Peesident's Addeess. — If there is any one part of the British Islands 
where the very name of the place is naturally associated in our minds 
with a particular geological formation, it is the town of Newcastle as as- 
sociated with coal ; and, beyond a doubt, many of the present visitors to 
this cradle and centre of the coal trade will have made their journey hither 
with the expectation of not only hearing communications on various 
branches of geological science, but more especially of adding something 
to their knoM ledge of the carboniferous strata. We are to be favoured 
with several papers dealing with different portions of the subject, and it 
may be advisable that I should invite your attention to the state of our 
knowledge of the occurrence and history of the coal-measures generally, 
referring mainly to the phenomena which characterize that most valuable 
region in which we are assembled. I shall attempt, as it were, an overture 
giving a general outline of the carboniferous plot, and introducing a few 
notes to illustrate those passages which are most likely, in our successive 
