214 
THE GEOLOGIST. 
As contrasted with this locul origin of the Lower Pcnnian rocks of Central 
England, it was shown that the sedimentary materials of which the Triassic 
Rocks are formed must have been drifted by an ancient oceiinic current from a 
continent or large tract of land occupying the position of the North Atlantic, and 
that the sediment was spread over the plains of England as long as it was mecha- 
nically suspended. The increasing distance towards the south-east from the 
som-ce of su])ply, accounted for the taihng out of the sediment. During the 
Bunter Sandstone period, this sediment was drifted through the channel formed 
by the gi'eat headlands of Westmoreland and North Wixles ; but, as the whole 
area was giadvially sinking (v/ith occasional interrujjtions) during the periods of 
the Ui)per Trias and succeednig formations, the Welsh and Cumbrian mountains 
must have been nearly covered by sea at the close of the Liassic period. 
The author adduced the following reasons for considering that the Bunter 
Sandstone of England formed dry land dm"ing the deposition ef the Muschelkalk 
of Germany. 
1st. That the Lower Keuper Sandstone rests on an eroded surface of the 
Bunter ; 2d, that the basement-bed of the Keuper is frequently a breccia or 
shingle-beach ; and 3d, that there is a local unconformity observable in Stafford, 
Leicester, and Lancashire, between these formations. 
The author described the distribution of the quartzose conglomerates which 
form the middle division of the Bunter, and considers it probable that they are 
the reconstructed materials of the Old Red Conglomerate of Scotland. 
The probable extension of coal-measures from the coal-fields of England to those 
of Belgium and France was considered, as also the bearing of the whole subject 
on Mr. Godwin-Austen's theoiy of the extension of coal-measures under the chalk 
of the Thames Valley ; and it was inferred that coal-measures might possibly be 
found at not luiapproachable depths under parts of Oxford and Northamptonshire. 
It was also shown, that, from indications presented by the coal-formation at the 
southern borders of the Staffordshire and Wanvickshir-e coal field, there was reason 
to suspect that the formation becomes attenuated and less productive of valuable 
coal-beds in its extension towards the south-eastern districts. 
The pajier was illustrated by a series of comparative horizontal sections across 
the midland counties. 
Geologists' Association. — April 4. — The fourth ordinary meeting was held at 
the Society's Rooms, 5, Cavendish Square, Dr. Hyde Clarke, V.P., in the chair. 
A very interesting paper was read by the Rev. T. Wiltshire, M.A., F.G.S., Presi- 
dent of the Association, on " The Red Chalk of England." It was stated that 
the red chalk occurs in situ only in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and 
Norfolk. It is first seen at Speeton, about six miles from Flamborough Head, in 
Yorkshire, where it rests imconforniably upon the Speeton clay and imderlies the 
white clialk. It is there about 30 feet, which appears to be the greatest thickness 
it attains, and is traceable from Speeton in a westerly direction for about 20 miles, 
when, turning at a shai-p angle, it proceeds across Yorkshire towards the south- 
east, and disappears below the marsh-land, about seven miles to the west of Hull. 
It re-appears at Ferraby, in Lincolnshire, and there may be traced across Lincoln- 
shire until it is cut off by the Wash, on the south shore of which, — at Hunstanton, 
in Norfolk,— it is again found, and may be traced from that place to a few miles 
north of Lyrm, after which it is seen no more. In Lincolnshire and Norfolk it 
underUes the white chalk, and rests upon a dark pebbly mass which is supposed to 
helong to the lower gi-eensand. At Hunstanton it is only 4 feet in thickness, and 
assumes a different character from that which it presents at Speeton, being much 
harder, darker in colour, and containing pebbles, which are not seen in the red 
chalk of the latter place. The red chalk appears to be very fossiliferous, containing 
serpulfe, terebratula^, corals, sponges, belemnites, &c. ; and from the circumstance 
of some of the belenmites being of species characteristic of the gault, the author 
considered the red chalk as the equivalent of that formation. Fragments more or 
less rolled had been found in the drift at JIuswell Hill ; from which it wa.s infeiTcd 
that the red chalk must have at one time existed in large masses over a consider- 
able tract of country. These fragments appeared to be, in mineral character, and 
