HB. T. P. TEALE ON FOSSIL ICHTHYOLOGY. 
Mr. T. P.Teale, F.L.S.,then read his paper "On the Fossil 
Ichthyology of the Yorkshire Coal Field." He began by 
saying that the title of the West-Riding Geological and 
Polytechnic Society suflBiciently explained its principal ob- 
jects, namely, Theoretical Geology and Practical Mining. The 
former, the science which investigates the laws whereby 
were regulated the original deposition and the subsequent 
disturbances of the stratified rocks ; the latter, the art 
which renders available to man the stores of mineral treasure 
provided by an all- wise and beneficent Creator for alleviating 
the wants and for ministering to the comforts of his crea- 
tures. These two departments, although often separately 
pursued, are nevertheless capable of being rendered mutually 
subservient to each other's advancement. Thus, whilst the 
daily labours of the miner are disclosing new facts upon 
which the geologist builds his theories, the generalizations of 
the geologist direct the proceedings of the miner, and save 
the enormous waste of time and capital which has so 
repeatedly attended mining efforts when unaided by the 
the light of geological science. Within the sphere of the 
Society's operations, there are few objects of greater prac- 
tical importance than the identification of strata. It was 
formerly imagined that the valuable beds of coal worked at 
Middleton, Haigh Moor, and Lofthouse, in this neighbour- 
hood, were identical ; but it has now been demonstrated, by 
means of this Society, that the main-coal of Middleton is not 
identical with that of Haigh Moor and Lofthouse. But he 
understood that all are not yet agreed whether the Middleton 
beds occupy a position higher or lower in the series of strata 
than those of Haigh Moor and Lofthouse. It is, however, 
evident (he said) that if the Middleton beds are lower than 
the others, there must be, at Haigh* Moor and Lofthouse, 
beneath the beds now worked, beds continuous with those 
of Middleton ; and, on the other hand, if the Middleton 
beds are higher in the scale, there must be at Middleton, 
beneath the present works, beds continuous with those of 
Haigh Moor and Lofthouse. Hence it is evident that the 
non-identity of the Middleton and Haigh Moor beds of coal 
is a fact of no trifling importance as to our future prospects, 
when we consider the present lavish expenditure of fuel, 
and a fact of no httle interest to the owners of the soil. 
The means of identifying stata are various, but they may 
principally be referred to two heads : 1st. the observa- 
tion of the physical characters of the strata, namely, their 
colour, structure, hardness, and chemical and mineral com- 
position ; 2nd. the comparative examination of their organic 
contents. The physical characters are in many instances alone 
