Few amongst the many remains of Fossil Fishes hitherto discovered have excited more interest than the remarkable fossil Ray, found about forty years ago by Miss Anning in the Lower Lias at Lyme Regis.

The Geological Department of the British Museum possesses the fine collection of fossils from the Solenhofen Oolites, which was formed under specially favourable circumstances by Häberlein. Its importance is at once apparent when it is remembered that it contains the specimen of Archœopteryx macrura, described by Owen.

It has been generally assumed by geologists that the climate of the period which followed the elevation of the Glacial beds was one of gradual amelioration from a rigorous to a mild one. The Rev. O. Fisher some time since, however, in describing certain appearances presented by some superficial sections which he denominated “Trail,” suggested that they were due to a second period of cold, which he regarded as having occurred between 100,000 and 200,000 years back. Without adopting, in all respects, the views of Mr. Fisher, I yet think that the facts, as far as yet known, point to the conditions of climate during the Post-glacial period having been the reverse of what has been generally assumed with respect to them; and I propose here to give some reasons for that idea.

The interesting relation between the Porphyrite of Whitberry Point, at the mouth of the Tyne near Dunbar, and the adjacent sedimentary rocks, was first noticed, we believe, by Professor Geikie, who speaks of it in the Memoirs of the Geological Survey of East Lothian, pages 40 and 41, and again in the new edition of Jukes's Geology, pp. 269. The volcanic mass which forms the point, consists of a dark felspathic base with numerous crystals of augite: it is circular in form, and is exposed for two-thirds of its circumference in a vertical precipice facing the sea, about twenty feet in height.

The older valley-gravels and cave-deposits of England contain, as every geologist knows, a remarkable intermingling of northern and southern forms of animal life. To account for this anomaly various theories have been advanced. There are few who do not admit, to begin with, that species such as the hippopotamus and the musk-sheep could not have lived side by side throughout the year in the same country. The conditions necessary for the support of the one would be fatal to the other. Some writers, therefore, have inferred that the occurrence of the remains of both these creatures in our superficial deposits points to former fluctuations of climate during the accumulation of these beds; while others hold that it only indicates a period of strongly contrasted summers and winters.

In his fourth paper Mr. Geikie sweeps the entire Glacial series of the Eastern side of England into correlation, not only with the Scotch Till, but with the Boulder-clay, both Upper and Lower, of the North-west of England. This he does, so far as I follow him, without any other grounds than that there are beds of “gravel, sand, mud and clay” in the Scotch Till. It is impossible, within the compass of these remarks, adequately to contest Mr. Geikie's views; but if the evidence of organie remains is to be regarded as worth anything, such a correlation cannot, I contend, be maintained.