Researches in Newer Pliocene And Post Tertiary Geology

ereas its object was to investigate the phenomena produced by these changes, and to draw such conclusions from them as the facts seemed to warrant. Perceiving these conclusions, if I may be allowed to say so, were of no small importance, my first object was to institute a comparison between the existing testaceous fauna of the British seas and that which preceded it, assisted by two such eminent couchologists as the late Mr. George B. Sowerby and Mons. Deshayes, the former of whom accompanied me on a dredging cruise, and the latter examined and reported on the shells, especially with reference to their climatal conditions. We ascertained for the first time the very decided difference between the present fauna and that which preceded it, amounting to uot less than 30 per cent, of shells no longer inhabitants of the British seas (see the lists of shells from the Kyles of Bute and the Greenock Railway), and also for the first time that the climate of the British Islands at the period of their deposition must have been colder than it is at present. My lamented friend, H. E. Strickland, to whoip I communicated the conclusions with respect to climate, fec., strongly advised me to send a paper on the subject to the Geological Society, which would bring a discovery which he considered of great importance into notice sooner than in the more limited circulation of the " Memoirs of the Wer- nerian Society" (see his letter on the subject, Appendix, No. 1). In con...