In the Häberlein collection there is a slab containing the remains of a branch, of which portions are figured in Pl. V., Fig. 1. It belonged, there is little reason to doubt, to a species of Pinus, in which, as in the section Larix, the leaves were borne in fascicles on abortive lateral branches. Traces of these leaves appear to exist at a and b. The specimen affords, unfortunately, no more information than this; nothing of the kind, however, appears to have been recorded from Solenhofen, and it has therefore appeared desirable to call attention to its existence.

It would at first sight seem superfluous that anything more should be written upon the relations of the Rhætic Beds in England, for during the past twelve years they have received so much attention—the principal sections have been described, and the beds have been well and successfully searched for fossils. But whilst there has been no lack of petrological and palæontological evidence,—and we ought to be very thankful to railway companies in the western counties for opening up so many fine sections,—still it is somewhat astonishing to remark, there has been and there still appears to be a considerable diversity of opinion on the subject of the relations of the beds. Some authorities have placed them with the Lias, others with the Trias; some regard them as quite an independent formation, others as passage-beds belonging as much to the one as to the other.

The writer had the opportunity last summer, with Dr. B. J. Harrington as assistant, to re-examine the rock formations of Prince Edward Island, of which a notice was given in the second edition of his “Acadian Geology.” The report of our reconnaissance, which has been published by the local government, with a map, sections, and figures of fossils, may be referred to for details; but I propose in this paper to notice a few points of general scientific interest not dwelt on in the report.

All geologists, especially those who, like myself, are interested in the study of the Upper Tertiaries, are indebted to Mr. Prestwich for the valuable memoir upon “The Structure of the Cragbeds of Suffolk and Norfolk.” As the views propounded therein are somewhat novel, I purpose examining some of the points brought forward in their support.

It has already been sufficiently insisted that no warm or genial climate has intervened since the close of the Glacial epoch. The climate of Britain is milder now than at any other period subsequent to the re-elevation of our country after the last great submergence; our winters have been gradually growing less intense; Britain has slowly passed from an Arctic to a temperate condition of things. Mr. Dawkins accounts for the absence of the mammal-bearing drifts in Scotland and the upland districts of England by supposing that in post-glacial times all these regions were covered with snow and ice. This, however, is a rather exaggerated picture of post-glacial Britain. It is quite true that after the emergence of our country from the last great subsidence, a few local glaciers continued to linger on among our mountain valleys.

On the previous occasions upon which I have had the honour of lecturing in this hall, my observations were confined to the consideration of the structure of the earth beneath our feet. Now, however, I would crave your indulgence still further, when I attempt to carry your thoughts with me to infinitely higher regions by directing your attention to the study of what may be termed the mineralogy of the heavens above us.