PROCEEDINGS, 1871—1877. 
363 
and recent achievements of Engineering in connection with it. He 
described the great gTOwth in the coal mining industry in this 
country, and compared the deep mines on the continent with those 
in England. The several methods of boring were described, and the 
various systems of lighting and ventilation, together with the use of 
machinery in coal-getting, were enumerated. The author considered 
that the increase in temperature in deep mining is not so gTeat as 
has generally been supposed, and the deepest mines hitherto sunk 
appear to bear out this supposition. Such being the case, he sees no 
reason why mines should not be worked at a gTeat depth provided 
that this can be done at a sufficiently reasonable cost to pay expenses. 
Two papers were read by Mr. James W. Davis, one descriptive of a 
photograph issued with the volume of proceedings, representing stems 
and roots of fossil trees discovered in making an extension of the 
Wadsley Asylum, near Sheffield ; the other on a stratum of shale 
containing fish-remains, occurring immediately above the Better Bed 
Coal, known to extend over a surface of four or five miles in length 
and two in breadth, and having an average thickness of about a 
quarter of an inch. Thirty -five species of fossil fish are enumerated 
from this bed, together with the bones of a lab}Tinthodont, identified 
by Mr. Miall as those of Loxomma. 
At the annual meeting held in October, 1876, Professor Green 
presiding, the honorary secretary stated in his annual report that the 
number of members had been increased to 1 15. A debt owing to Messrs. 
Edward Baines and Sons for printing, which had accumulated up to 
the year 1870, and amounted to more than £'20, had been paid, the 
money being subscribed by a few of the members for this purpose. 
Local secretaries were appointed in Barnsley, Bradford, Halifax, and 
Huddersfield, and in accordance with the resolution passed at a meet- 
ing held at Leeds a summary of geological literature relating to the 
West Riding had been prepared. This was inserted in the annual 
report of proceedings. During the year an interesting excursion had 
been made to the Victoria Cave, near Settle. The members were met 
at the Giggleswick Museum by Mr. R. H. Tiddeman, who conducted 
the party to the cave, and explained its early history and the im- 
portant results that had been obtained from its investigation. The 
