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it as a delta, or in the sea ; we have no right to measure by the present rate, 
what was the former rate of this deposition, knowing what we do of the upper 
part of the Nile Valley, a great portion of which consists of a stratum that is 
not very easily decomposed. It may have been that, in earlier times, a larger 
amoimt of mineral matter was brought down in deposits than at the present 
moment. This then is an element of caution of which geologists should take 
heed. There is, however, another point, and that is the Chalk Formation ; but 
I am not prepared to argue that. Still I think that Mr. Reddie must have 
misunderstood Professor Huxley. He says, “ Look at the white chalk. It 
reaches a thickness of something like 1,200 feet, and is almost all composed 
of white matter. It is made up of a large assemblage of broken fragments, 
the remains of shell-fish, corals, and other forms of life existing in the seas at 
that time.” Mr. Reddie assumes that the chalk deposit could have been 
accumulated in less than 100 years. If we take our present evidence — and 
I only argue from that— we find that in the bed of the Atlantic, in the deep- 
sea bottom, the mud which is brought up — and we have only been able to 
penetrate that mud to a depth of 14 or 15 feet — somewhat represents, 
when dried, a similar quantity of chalk. It is found to be composed of from 
90 to 95 per cent, of foraminifera, which live in the Atlantic. This is an 
instructive fact which science has brought to bear on the history of bygone 
ages, — 95 per cent, of these small animals having left their exuviae. If any 
one will take the trouble to wash a piece of chalk with a brush, he will find 
similar organisms, some of which cannot be separated from the existing 
species. If then it be the case that only 14 or 15 feet of the Atlantic deposit 
have been accumulated within 6,000 years, I think it must raise a doubt as to 
whether the existing chalk formation has not taken a much longer period 
The Chairman. — May I ask, do you say that we now know the depth of 
the bed of the Atlantic to the extent of 14 feet ? 
Professor Morris.— That is all that we have at present arrived at 
The Chairman. — How have we arrived at that ? From all I have heard 
of the deep-sea soundings of the Atlantic bed, the mud brought up from a 
depth of 2^ miles is merely scooped up by a little apparatus attached to the 
heavy weight that carries the soundings. I was not aware that we had gone 
to such a depth as you state. 
Professor Morris. — I believe that in some of the very heavy soundings 
they have gone to that depth. Disregarding this statement, the chalk forma- 
tion, from the mineral character and organic remains, must have taken a very 
long time for its deposition. While there is no doubt that we clearly under- 
stand the origin of our chalk from studying present deposits, we must take 
into consideration the fact that the thousand feet of chalk contain also 
other organisms, of which we find no traces in the present seas. It is said 
that that chalk must have been accumulated as shallow deposits, inasmuch 
as a large number of the fish, corals, and so on, whose remains it contains, 
could not have lived at a very great depth. We have been told of star-fishes 
adhering to the rope which has been let down to the depth of a mile and a 
half; and the evidence of that is somewhat suggestive. I will pass now 
