The remains of many genera and species of the Order Carnivora have been discovered in the Lower and Middle Tertiaries of the European Continent, and have been described and figured in numerous valuable palæontological works and memoirs by Continental authors. That these remains are exceedingly rare in the older Tertiaries of England is proved by the fact, that only one Carnivore, the Hyœnodon, has been placed on record as occurring in them.

A Sudden and great change takes place in the geology of the Nile valley in approaching the First Cataract, where we pass from the unaltered and nearly flat Nubian sandstones to rocks highly crystalline, greatly disturbed, and penetrated with multitudes of igneous veins.

Having nearly completed the manuscript of a catalogue of some of the Orders of Fossil Mammalia in the Collection of the British Museum, I have thought it advisable to give a brief preliminary notice of some rather interesting points in connection with the structure and distribution of a few forms of Carnivora and Rodentia; in which orders I have now gone through the entire collection of specimens. I also notice one specimen to which I have assigned a new specific name; and another which does not belong to the collection of the British Museum. Several of the more interesting specimens will be illustrated by woodcuts in the forth-coming catalogue.

A Little more than half a mile in a direct line south-east of the village of Great Crosby, at Moorside, the Silicate Brick and Tile Company are excavating clay and shale for brick-making. The excavation at present is about 60 yards square and 35 feet deep from the original surface of the ground to the lowest point. It discloses a section of much interest.

In the following pages a brief account is given of the organization and publications of the chief Geological Surveys in Europe. The statements are taken from official sources, or from an inspection of the publications.

In formation has been kindly supplied by the directors of the following surveys: — Austro-Hungary, Bavaria, Belgium, Italy, Norway, Saxony, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

In the preparation of this report my colleague, Mr. W. H. Dalton, has given me much assistance; my thanks are also due to Professor G. A. Lebour and to Mr. F. W. Rudler.

The “Geological Record” gives descriptions of maps published in and since 1874.