52 DAVIS : FISH-REMAINS IN THE COAL-MEASURES. 
also flourished in the same medium. It is beyond the 
legitimate limits of this paper, or the argument deduced 
from the species of fish found in the Middle Coal Measures 
might be applied with equal force to those lower in the 
series, and usually called the Gfanister Beds. The same species, 
almost without exception, are found to occur in every bed in 
which fish remains have been found, and would appear to 
have been aggregated under very similar circumstances in 
each case. 
ON THE HISTOEY AND OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY, ESFEC1ALLY 
WITH REFERENCE TO THE HISTOEY OF SELBY AND THE 
GEOLOGY OF SELBY AND THE DISTRICT. 
BY J. T. ATKINSON, F.G.S. 
Ladies and Gentlemen, — In the first place let me give 
you a hearty welcome to the good old town of Selby. I call 
it an old town because of our splendid Abbey Church, which 
was founded by St. Benedict upon land given by the Con- 
queror in 1069. The etymology of the name Selby has been 
a subject of controversy; but by many persons it is thought 
that the most probable derivation is " Sealby," that is to 
say, " the abode of the seals/' because great quantities were 
captured here. The national events in the history of Selby 
are not numerous. It is asserted that the great battle be- 
tween the Conqueror and the Saxon Earls Edwin and Morka 
took place here in 1068, when "William gained the victory, 
and for a time triumphantly occupied York. In the follow- 
ing year, J 069, he founded the Abbey, and in 1070 brought 
his Queen to settle the endowment. Whilst at Selby his 
youngest son, afterwards Henry I., was born. 
In 1643-4, during the civil wars, there were many 
skirmishes between the Royalists and the Parliamentar}^ 
troops; several very sanguinary engagements took place, 
notably one on the 11th April, 1644, when the town was 
