extraordinary circumstances. This valley, shown by the contours, must have been cut while the land was above the sea; but it would be very interesting to work out this point. One cannot bear too strongly in mind the enormous power that speed in water bas. Take the Thames Valley, where the water runs fast it cuts its way. The same volume and amount of water deposits the very mud it has cut from the upper level on the lower level, so that it is not quantity only but velocity. Therefore, if we once have a deep gulf cut and a quantity of water behind, we have a condition that constitutes an erosive action and nothing would determine it more than the Pyrenees. There you have one of the ranges of mountains that stops the entire moisture or current of air on the north side of those mountains. One knows how complete and intense is the dryness in the north of the Alps, with such excessive damp on the south, and that condition, with the warm Atlantic breezes cut off by the Pyrenees, would cause a constant and strong stream of water down the Adour just where it wanted to cut this deep gulf. Under those circumstances I must say I think about as strong a case is made out for that origin of these gulfs as it would be possible to have.

Professor LOGAN LOBLEY (in answer to a question by Mr. Baber) said: The configuration of the coast-line, at the time of the elevation, did not at all correspond with the present. It would more nearly correspond with the margin of the platform represented by the 200 fathom contour of the present day. So that you may take it that the coast-line at that time would be a long way distant from the present coast. These various indentations would be formed by subsequent erosive action occasioned by local circumstances, causing a greater amount of cutting back on one part of the coast than the other; but the general increase of denuding or erosive action, would be on the southern part of that coast-line, and the general effect of that would be to produce an embayment which would be afterwards continued by the action of the rivers.

The CHAIRMAN.-With reference to the action of water that Mr. Howard referred to, one can hardly realize, unless one sees it, the effect of configuration on mountains when brought into contact with the warm atmosphere of the tropical regions. I have seen, four feet high, close on the ground, a cloud rise in the horizon not much larger apparently than a man's hand. In half an hour,

or three-quarters of an hour, I have seen it as it approached the land, rapidly increase in size to about a square mile. One could hardly imagine that all that water could be deposited in such a small space. Of course if you get mountain ranges of 20,000 feet with a warm south-west wind blowing, you can imagine the enormous quantity of water that would be precipitated. Then as to the movement of sand, one can hardly imagine, unless one has seen it, the action of the wind on sand and the height of the sand wave. It is very much like the formation of a wave of the sea, and one sees how quickly the sand wave will move directly there is any wind of any strength. One sandhill I remember distinctly, about three-quarters of a mile long, and the edge of it was just as sharp as the back of a knife. Directly any wind blew the edge of sand fell down by its own gravity, a fresh edge being formed and its face always standing at a certain angle. So with a bay like that of Biscay you can understand any quantity of sand being thrown up.

I am sure we desire to convey our best thanks to Professor Logan Lobley for his very interesting paper, which I think has completed the whole question that was brought before us by Professor Hull on a previous occasion.

The meeting then adjourned.

LONDON:

HARRISON AND SONS, PRINTERS IN ORDINARY TO HIS MAJESTY,

ST. MARTIN'S LANE.

The Qualification of a Vice-Patron is a Contribution of not

less than Sixty Guineas to the Funds of the Institute.

VOL. XXXII.

2 F

President.

SIR G. G. STOKES, BART., M.A., LL.D., D.Sc., F.R.S.

Vice-Presidents.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD CHANCELLOR, F.R.S.
SIR T. FOWELL BUXTON, BART., K.C.M.G.

SIR JOSEPH FAYRER, BART., K.C.S.I., M.D., F.R.S.

PROFESSOR LIONEL S. BEALE, F.R.C.P., F.R.S.

W. H. HUDLESTON, ESQ., F.R.S., Past Pres. of Geological Society.
ALEXANDER MCARTHUR, ESQ., D.L., J.P.

THE VEN. ROBINSON THORNTON, D.D., F.R.Hist.S., Archdeacon of
Middlesex.

Honorary Correspondents.

THE RIGHT HON. LORD KELVIN, PAST P.R.S.

PROF. A. AGASSIZ, D.C.L., F.R.S.
PROF. ETHERIDGE, F.R.S.
PROF. E. NAVILLE (Geneva).

PROF. MASPERO (Paris).
PROF. R. VIRCHOW, F.R.S.
PROF. FRITZ HOMMEL, PH.D.

PROF. A. H. SAYCE, D.D., LL.D.

Honorary Auditors.

J. ALLEN, ESQ.

GENERAL G. S. HALLOWES.

Honorary Treasurer.

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR H. L. GEARY, K.C.B.

Secretary and Editor of the Journal.
PROFESSOR EDWARD HULL, M.A., LL.D., F.R.S.

Council.

(In Order of Election.)

HIS HONOUR JUDGE WADDY, K.C.

REV. PRINCIPAL JAMES H. RIGG, D.D.

H. CADMAN JONES, ESQ., Barrister-at-Law.

REV. J. ANGUS, M.A., D.D.

D. HOWARD, ESQ., D.L., F.C.S., F.I.C., f.c. (Trustee).
REV. DR. F. W. TREMLETT, D.D., D.C.L., PH.D.
REV. PREB. H. WACE, D.D. (Trustee).

REV. CHANCELLOR J. J. LIAS, M.A.
GENERAL G. S. HALLOWES, f.c. (H.S.).
REV. F. A. WALKER, D.D., F.L.S., F.R.G.S.
CAPTAIN E. W. CREAK, C.B., R.N., F.R.S.
THOMAS CHAPLIN, ESQ., M.D.

REV. CANON R. B. GIRDLESTONE, M.A.
THEO. G. PINCHES, LL.D., M.R.A.S.

VEN. ARCHDEACON W. M. SINCLAIR, M.A., D.D.
GERARD SMITH, ESQ., M.R.C.S.
COMMANDER G. P. HEATH, R.N.

REV. CANON TRISTRAM, M.A., D.D., LL.D., F.R.S.
REV. G. F. WHIDBORNE, M.A., F.G.S., F.R.G.S.
LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR H. L. GEARY, K.C.B., R.A.
WALTER KIDD, ESQ., M.D., F.Z.S.

EDWARD STANLEY M. PEROWNE, ESQ.
MARTIN LUTHER ROUSE, ESQ., B.L.

REV. J. ASHINGTON BULLEN, M.A., F.G.S.
REV. JOHN TUCKWELL.