42 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
even more above the river bed. Numerous examples were given 
of their outward form and inward structure to illustrate these views. 
The author next proceeded to describe the exact geological 
position of these deposits. As the time of the kames or escars 
belonged to the close of the glacial epoch, so the formation of these 
terraces followed the time of the kames, and they were constructed 
by river floods out of the pre-existing collections of gravel, &c. 
The fossil remains of the flora of Strathearn, which they enclose, 
show that the climate of the period must have been as mild as the 
present. 
Certain geological arguments for the antiquity of man were 
referred to, especially these deduced from the gravel deposits of 
the Somme in France and the Brixham cave in England. From 
the height at which these deposits with flint weapons had been 
found above the present river courses, it had been held that the 
human period must be extended so as to leave time for the erosion 
of the valleys. The author adduced evidence to show conclusively 
that the Scottish valleys had been eroded down to their present 
depth previously to the formation of these old gravel deposits, 
which are found at so great a height above the rivers. If, there- 
fore, the analogy of the Scottish valleys and streams could apply 
to those of France and England, the time needed for the erosion 
of the valleys must be thrown out of the account. It was vain to 
attempt to dissociate the formation of the valley system of France 
and England from that of Scotland, as if they were not analogous. 
He had no doubt that these views would be established ; but, in 
the meantime, it was at least right that men should suspend their 
judgment till the question thus raised bad been thoroughly in- 
vestigated. 
The following Gentlemen were elected Fellows of the 
Society : — 
Alexander Russel, Esq. 
James Crichton Browne. M.D. 
John Duncan, M.D., F.R.C.S.E. 
W. Burns Thomson, F.R.C.S.E. 
Dr W. R. Sanders, Professor of Pathology. 
Rev. Andrew Thomson, D.D. 
Joseph Lister, Professor of Clinical Surgery. 
William Anderson, LL.D. 
