323 
materials of the coal field by the waters which were driven 
eastward during the time of emergence, and down the lines 
of the valleys, as the Aire, Calder, Don, &c. 
Now, from the distance of transport and overwhelming 
force of the former, the geological date of which is known, 
the remains of animals and plants might be transported into 
regions in which they were previously unknown, and there 
deposited beneath vast masses of gravel and other accumula- 
tions; but in the case of the latter, which are of limited 
extent, this could not occur, and we may trace an interesting 
distinction in the state of their organic remains, inasmuch as 
the animals appear to have been living in the districts at the 
period when they were inundated by the torrents of water, 
alluvial mud, and gravel, in which they are entombed, and this 
consequently proves the aboriginal character of the quadru- 
peds whose remains are now found in such situations, which 
generally follow the course of valleys, either excavated at the 
period by the force of the water, or the former beds of rivers 
since diverted. In instances where animals not natives are 
transported from remote districts, their bones are scattered, 
fragmentary, frequently water-worn, and associated with rocks 
from distant localities and of varying kinds ; while in cases 
like these, of animals submerged in their native haunts, their 
remains are generally in close connexion, present a very 
recent and unbroken appearance, and have not those distant 
materials buried with them which serve the purpose of 
medals, if I may so speak, or references to the districts 
from whence they were derived. 
From the summary just given, and from the circumstance 
that my communication owes its origin to a local de- 
posit, it will readily be perceived that the one to which I 
have now to call your attention is the second enumerated by 
Mr. Thorp, which extends down the valleys of the Aire and 
Calder, and, consequently, passes though Leeds and the 
