Notes and Comments. 
143 
to geologists. In 1810 Basil Hall, then a young officer in 
H.M.S. Endymion, obtained a fragment from this rock, 
which later found its way into the collection of the Geological 
Society. More than thirty years afterwards, the specimen 
was recognized ; it was then mislaid for another 30 years, 
and in 1895 was brought to me by the late Professor T. Rupert 
Jones. He not only carefully studied all the literature con- 
nected with Rockall, but was able to trace two other specimens 
of the rock, the loan of which he obtained and brought to me. 
They had been procured by two of the officers of H.M.S. 
Porcupine in 1868 during the survey of the North Atlantic. 
The microscopic stud}' of these specimens shows that in Rockall 
there exist rocks of exceptional interest, which are not repre- 
sented in our islands, but have analogues in the Christiania 
district of Norway, where they have been so well studied by 
Professor W. C. Brogger. These rocks, as shown by micro- 
scopic study and a chemical analysis made by Mr. Makins, 
consist essentially of three minerals — quartz, the felspar 
albite, and the rare soda-pyroxene aegirite, with its dimorphous 
form acmite. The rock, therefore, resembles the soda-granite 
and the grorudite of Professor Brogger — but, in deference to 
the opinion of the distinguished Norwegian petrographer, 
a distinct name was given to it. In 1896 an attempt was 
made to obtain further specimens of the rocks of this islet by 
members of the Royal Irish Academy ; but, although many 
valuable observations were recorded, it was found, after two 
voyages had been made to Rockall, quite impossible to land 
and obtain specimens. 
DESTRUCTION OF GREY SEALS. 
A Standing Committeee of the House of Commons recently 
considered a Bill for the protection of grey seals. There was 
no amendment, and no opposition from any quarter. Mr. 
Lyell said the Bill proposed to enact for the next five years a 
statutory close time (between October 1 and December 15) 
during the breeding season. The grey seal was quite distinct 
from the common seal, from which it differed both in its habits 
and its time of breeding, and especially in the fact that the 
young were not able to swim for the first fortnight or three 
weeks. As a consequence, all the breeding-places had to be 
well above high-water mark, on lonely rocks and skerries, 
where they were especially exposed to attack. It was estimated 
by a competent authority that the total number of grey seals 
had been reduced in Scottish waters to less than 500 ; in Irish 
waters there were far fewer, and in English waters fewer still. 
In view of these facts some such measure would appear to be 
necessary to save an interesting animal from extinction. 
The Bill was agreed to as it stood. 
1914 May 1. 
