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Geology at the British Association. 
coal measures, the constituents of coal seams, the interferences 
to which coal swamps are liable (both contemporaneous and 
posthumous), and the phenomenon of cleat, afforded a survey 
which showed Professor Kendall at his best. Students of 
coal measure geology will welcome this address for its stimu- 
lating influence as well as for its practical value. 
The discussion on the ‘ Evolution of the North Sea Basin ’ 
was a revelation of the width and depth of the knowledge re- 
quired to tackle an apparently simple subject. The discussion 
embraced geology ranging from Palaeozoic to recent times, 
and showed that a detailed knowledge of the Tertiary rocks 
was especially necessary. A prolonged study of all rocks 
bordering the North Sea area has shown that the history of the 
basin is a very old and long one, although the formation of the 
present shallow sea is a comparatively recent geological event. 
The evidence of the existence of a marshy plain, largely 
peat bog, in the southern portion of the North Sea, through 
which the Rhine, Weser and Thames formerly meandered, 
was naturally made full use of by Professor Kendall in his 
illustrations of coal swamps — an admirable instance of the 
correlation of geological studies. The physiographical aspect, 
as in the paper on coal swamps, was rightly made the keynote 
of the problem. This discussion was succeeded, suitably 
enough, by an admirable paper from Mr. J. O. Borley, on the 
‘ Floor Deposits of the North Sea. * Mr. C. Thompson followed 
with a paper giving details of the ‘ Encroachments of the North 
Sea on the Coast of Holderness.’ The North Sea lias certainly 
received full attention during this, the opening session. In 
this session, Mr. T. Sheppard rendered useful service to those 
who were not intimately acquainted with the geological 
features of the East Riding. In his own characteristic fashion, 
he outlined the main features of the geology of the district, and 
illustrated these with excellent lantern slides. Strangers to 
the locality much appreciated this simple yet comprehensive 
survey of East Yorkshire geology. 
Great interest centred in the discussion on * Wegener’s 
Hypothesis,’ as was shown by the crowded audience. The 
general tone was one of scepticism, and the prevailing feeling 
was that there is very little real evidence to support the 
theory. In this discussion some useful information on geolog- 
ical features in the Southern Seas was imparted by Professor 
Marshall. The joint discussion with Sections ‘ E ’ and ‘ H 
on ‘ Early Man and the Ice Age ’ was frankly disappointing. 
Here was a splendid opportunity of interchanging, if not of 
reconciling, views upon this difficult and thorny subject. 
The discussion was expected to centre round the British phase 
of the Ice Age, but this was practically ignored, and the 
Continental phase of the subject was discussed most of the 
Naturalist 
