bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Notice of a Fragment of a Reptilian Skull from the Upper Cretaceous of Grünbach
Authors: Bunzel Emmanuel 
Published: October 2009

Abstract

T
he
bone described by the author was found by Prof. Suess in a coal-mine belonging to the Gosau formation at Grünbach, near Wiener Neustadt, from which Prof. Suess obtained numerous other bones also belonging to terrestrial reptiles.

The author stated that the reptilian character of the bone appeared at the first glance, as it shows a single condyle and a temporal fossa resembling that of a Crocodile; but it has some peculiarities, such as the convexity of the occiput and its gentle passage into the roof of the skull, without forming an angle as in other reptiles, the transverse ridge in the occipital region, the want of sutures between the bones, the globular form of the condyle, the horizontality of the base, the ascending direction of the clivus, and the large brain-cavity, which render it impossible to refer the animal to which this bone belonged to any recognized order of Reptiles.

The known skulls of Dinosaurians have a steep occiput, and exhibit more of the Lacertilian type; the fragment described by the author rather resembled that of a bird. The author consequently suggested the formation of a new order of fossil Reptiles,
Ornithocephala
, nearly allied to the
Ornithoscelida
of Prof. Huxley.

For the animal of which this fragment is the only known relic, the author proposed the generic name of
Struthiosaurus
.
Geological Observations on the Waipara River, New Zealand
Authors: Hood T. H. Cockburn 
Published: October 2009

I
n
1859, whilst travelling in the Province of Canterbury, I discovered certain beds underlying the Waipara tertiaries, which I referred at the time to the Liassic series, and obtained from the bed of the River Waipara bones of an Enaliosaurian, which were placed in the British Museum, and which were recognized by Professor Owen as belonging to a new species of Plesiosaur, named by him
P. australis
.

Returning to the colony after ten years’ absence, I found that a survey of that province had been completed by the Government Geologist, Dr. Haast, whilst the northern and southern portions of the Middle Island had been explored by that accurate and painstaking observer Dr. Hector. The Canterbury and Wellington museums afford interesting evidence of their careful labours: in the latter a collection of fossils from Triassic deposits of the Nelson Province is placed; and an excellent one adorns the former, from the Tertiary beds of the Waipara and other adjacent districts, which crop out here and there from beneath the vast accumulations of Postpliocene gravels.
With the exception of some small fragments of bones (ribs chiefly) of Reptilian origin, nothing appeared to have been found to assist in determining the species of the antipodean monsters. I determined therefore to make as thorough an exploration of the wild ravines of the Waipara as possible, with the assistance of my friend Mr. Innes, who is the proprietor of the Mount-Brown estate, under the base of which the river here runs, and who had taken
Notes on some Specimens of Lower Silurian Trilobites
Authors: Billings E. 
Published: October 2009

T
his
specimen was collected in the Trenton Limestone, at the city of Ottawa, about ten years ago. When discovered it was lying flat upon a thin slab of limestone, and well preserved, with the exception of the eyes, which seem to have been forced inwards by pressure from above. It was also divided into two pieces by a fissure which extended diagonally across, from the first segment of the thorax on the left side to the fifth segment on the right.

It remained in the Museum for several years without attracting particular attention, until one day, observing that the part in front of the fissure was somewhat loosely attached, I removed it, and was surprised at finding, on the underside, not only the hypostoma in place, but also what appeared to be some of the legs of the animal. As the part behind the fissure was more firmly attached to the stone, I had it cut across just behind the eighth segment by the lapidary of the Survey. The remainder of the thorax was then easily split off. The pygidium came off with difficulty and in two pieces. All the pieces were then fastened together; and we thus obtained two specimens, one of which shows the underside of the Trilobite, and the other its impression on the stone.
On the underside (P1. XXXI. fig. 1) a broad shallow grooye extends from the space between the two lobes of the hypostoma, where we must suppose the mouth to be situated, backwards
Notes on the Geology of Arisaig, Nova Scotia
Authors: Honeyman D. 
Published: October 2009

In the year 1864 I communicated a paper to the Society on the Upper Silurian rocks of Arisaig and their fauna. I observed then that these rocks were the type of a considerable proportion of the Nova-Scotian Silurian system. My field experience since then has confirmed this opinion. All the Upper Silurian rocks that I have examined appear to be repetitions of the Arisaig series, wholly or partially fossiliferous, and partially metamorphic, or highly metamorphic, and without appearance of fossils, as at Arisaig itself. I then observed, in connexion with the B, or second lowest member of my Arisaig series, “that the conditions under which it had been formed appeared to have been of a kind not the most favourable to the development of life.” This statement requires modification. I have found B strata in Arisaig, and elsewhere, somewhat rich in fossils. At Arisaig Cove, south of the pier, I found, in the summer of 1868, many beautiful specimens of Orthids, Trilobites, Crinoids, and
Favosites
. In other localities I found abundance of
Lingulæ
of various species, and a peculiar fossil, singularly and beautifully milled.

I also observed, in my former paper, that A had been transformed into porcellanous jasper at Arisaig pier, Frenchman’s Barn, &c.
In the summer of 1868, I found, connected with these jaspideous rocks, beds of soft material resembling silicates of magnesia, but which are now found to be silicates of alumina, which may be employed for ornamental and useful purposes.
In reference to A and B
Notes on the Lower portion of the Green Slates and Porphyries of the Lake-district between Ulleswater and Keswick
Authors: Nicholson Henry Alleyne 
Published: October 2009

O
verlying
the Skiddaw slates of the Lake-district and underlying the Coniston limestone is a great series of rocks which are mostly of igneous origin, and were originally named by Prof. Sedgwick the “Green Slates and Porphyries.” These rocks consist essentially of stratified felspathic ashes associated with sheets of contemporaneous trap. The ash-beds are mostly cleaved, and they constitute the well-known “green slates” of Cumberland and Westmoreland, whilst the traps are often porphyritic. The origin, therefore, of the name proposed by Prof. Sedgwick is obvious; but there are many reasons why some local name would be preferable. Near the summit of the group is a band containing Caradoc fossils, so that the age of this portion of the series is unequivocal; but no organic remains have ever been detected as yet in the lower portion of the green slates, so that the exact age of this is somewhat uncertain. The entire series of the green slates and porphyries is exhibited over a very extensive superficial area, comprising the central portion of the Lake-district proper, and extending about twenty-five miles along the strike, from E.N.E. to W.S.W., and about thirteen miles in the direction of the dip, from N.N.W. to S.S.E.

So much repetition, however, takes place, in consequence of folding and of faults, that it is very questionable if the entire thickness of the series is more than some 5000 or 6000 feet, though it doubtless varies considerably in different parts of this area.
It is the object of this communication
Note on some Plesiosaurian Remains obtained by J. C. Mansel, Esq., F.G.S., in Kimmerldge Bay, Dorset
Authors: Hulke J. W. 
Published: October 2009

T
hese
remains form part of the rich series of Enaliosaurian fossils obtained from Kimmeridge Bay, by J. C. Mansel, Esq., to whose courtesy I am indebted for the opportunity of bringing them under your notice. They consist of five vertebræ, four of which are nearly entire, with pieces of several ribs, a digital phalanx, and a carpal bone (?), imbedded in two slabs of clay-stone, indicating an undescribed species of
Plesiosaurus
,—and of a large number of associated bones representing another species characterized more particularly by the proportions and peculiar construction of its paddles, which sharply separate it from the typical
Plesiosauri
of the Lias, and show an extremely close affinity with
Pliosaurus
.

The middle dorsal vertebræ (the only ones in Mr. Mansel’s collection) of the species for which I propose this name, are characterized by the extreme shortness of the centrum, which in three of the vertebr’ lying in one slab has a length, or antero-posterior diameter, of 1 inch only, measured along the outer, non-articular surface. The length of the fourth centrum, in the other slab, is ⋅3 inch more; but this centrum is a little obliquely distorted by pressure. The breadths (or horizontal transverse diameters) of the centra are respectively 4⋅6, 4⋅5, 4⋅3, 4⋅4 inches; and their heights (or vertical diameters) are 4, 4, 3⋅8 inches.
Span between ends of transverse processes 6⋅7 inches. Height of neural spine about 3⋅6 inches. Height of entire vertebra from lower border of centrum to top of neural spine about 9⋅4 inches.
On some points in South-African Geology.—Part II
Authors: Stow G. W. 
Published: October 2009

Abstract

T
his
paper commenced with a detailed account of the Forest zones, coal, and other strata of the Karoo formation, as seen in sections in the Winterberg and Stormberg. The author particularly pointed out the position of the Fern-beds at Dordrecht, of the Reptilian remains found on the Upper Zwartkei, and of the Coal on the Klaas Smits River. He next referrd to the climatal changes of South Africa, as indicated by its geology and fossils, particularly the Karoo beds, the
Enon
-conglomerate, the
Trigonia
-beds, the several post-Tertiary shell-beds, and especially the present surface conditions, which he regarded as due to ice-action, as evidence of which he adduces
roches moutonnées
, moraines, basins, and striæ, both north and south of the Stormberg, in British Kaffraria, and even in Lower Albany. He concluded with remarks on the probable succession of periods, and on the former existence of a great southern continent.
On the Diamond-districts of the Cape of Good Hope
Authors: Gilfillan G. 
Published: October 2009

Abstract

I
n
this paper the author gave an account of a visit paid by him in June last to the diamond-bearing districts of the Cape of Good Hope.

Between Cradock and Hope Town there seemed to be no indications to warrant the expectation of finding diamonds. The geological structure of the country between Cradock and Middelburg is very uniform, showing few traces of upheavals. The rocks are chiefly sandstones of various degrees of fineness, with alternating beds of red or blue marl, in hard nodules of which
Dicynodon
-remains are formed.

On the “Karoo” the author noticed that all the springs in that country rise on the eastern side of dykes which run about N.E. and S.W. Near Hope Town there are immense tracts of sand. This village is surrounded by low bluffs of a peculiar rock, consisting of a calcareous matrix with waterworn pebbles. At Hope Town an active trade in diamonds is carried on.
The author crossed the Orange River at Hope Town, and describes the tract of country between that and the Vaal River, called Albania, as very barren of geological interest, being chiefly a sandy waste, with a few low hills dykes of greenstone, trap, &e., and occasionally an outcrop of hard blue schist. Where the sandy covering is removed, a deposit of tufaceous nodular limestone is exposed.
Crossing the Vaal River at the Griqua mission-station of Back-house, the author entered the true diamond-district. At Nicholson’s farm, about six miles up the river, he observed the outcrop of a hard conglomerate, sometimes assuming the aspect of a breccia, composed of angular and rounded pebbles and blocks of quartz, jasper, &c. of all sizes to upwards of a foot in diameter. Overlying this was a highly ferruginous soil containing numerous pebbles of quartz, jasper, iron ore, &c., in which, the author was informed, several diamonds had been found.
From Baekhouse the authOr pushed on to Likatlong, about sixty miles further north. On the road along the banks of the Vaal River he occasionally observed schistose rocks, and also a great deal of unstratified limestone, containing quartz and other pebbles, in which diamonds were said to have been found with limestone adhering to them. Beneath this limestone, when denuded away, a ferruginous clay, the same as above described, makes its appearance, and is searched by the natives for diamonds. The author considers that the number of diamonds found at .Likatlong had been greatly exaggerated. He states that the diamonds were everywhere obtained from the ferruginous soft, and that the spots which had been searched were always near the river, and, as far as he observed, only on the right bank, where the level of the country for some distance from the river is lower than on the opposite side. He considers that the finding of diamonds on this side only is due to the absence of the great deposit of sand which raises the country on the opposite bank to a much higher level.
On the Chalk of the Southern Part of Dorset and Devon
Authors: Whitaker William 
Published: October 2009

As my rambles through Dorset and Devon (in 1867–68) were made from east to west, the same course will be followed in transcribing my notes, a course that will also have the advantage of starting from the point nearest to the Isle of Wight, the Chalk of which has been described in a paper of which this may be taken as a continuation†.
At the northern side of Swanage Bay, where the rocks are almost vertical, the Upper Greensand, consisting of green-grey sand with layers of nodular stones, is capped by evenly bedded Chalk Marl, made up of alternations of lighter-coloured thicker and harder beds, with darker thinner and softer, and forming a sort of ridge-and-furrow foreshore, as in the Isle of Wight. The Chalk Marl has a thick grey bed at top, and seems to be about 60 feet thick. It is succeeded by hard bedded Chalk without flints, which again is soon succeeded by a thin layer of the Chalk-rock, hard, with the usual irregular-shaped green-coated nodular lumps (chiefly at the top) and iron-pyrites. Above this is Chalk that weather to a rough surface, and higher up contains flints. Further east, at the highest part of the cliff, the Chalk is less rough, and not so full of flints as in the Isle of Wight.
I was not able to get at the section between Ballard Hole and the Foreland ; but enough has been already written on that part‡. I may remark, however, that two of the
On the Physical Relations of the New Red Marl, Rhætic Beds, and Lower Lias
Authors: Ramsay A. C. 
Published: October 2009

If we look upon the Rhætic beds of Europe as a whole, it is evident that they were formed under very different conditions in different areas. Thus this formation on the south side of the Alps, as described by Stoppani, contains a large and well-developed marine fauna, whereas in England, Germany, Sweden, and in other parts of the north of Europe, the strata are much less developed, and the fauna has dwindled, containing fewer forms of life, while most of them are small and some distorted in appearance.
In this paper I propose to inquire into the reason of these peculiarities with regard to the English beds, and to show their relations to the New Red Marl and the Lower Lias in a physical point of view.
Notes on the Peat and Underlying Beds observed in the Construction of the Albert Dock, Hull
Authors: Hawkshaw J. C. 
Published: October 2009

T
he
author described the Albert Dock as extending east and west along the foreshore of the Humber at Hull, for a distance of 4000 feet. The total area excavated was about 30 acres. All the excavations were carried to a depth of at least 8 feet, and in some instances of 27 feet, below the level of low water.

Before the commencement of the excavations the Hessle Clay, peat, and overlying silt were met with in succession on the foreshore, the level of the top of the peat-bed at the west end of the area being about 3 feet above the level of low water, and its thickness from 3 to 4 feet. Eastward the bed followed the undulations of the clay without much variation in general level for half a mile, when it began to dip, attaining a depth of 12 feet below low-water level at the lock-entrance, and then rising again. From this depression of the peat-bed, and the appearance of the overlying silts, the author thought it probable that this had been an old channel of the river Hull, and that the upper part of the peat had been removed by scour. In support of this view he quoted the statements of antiquarian writers.
The peat rested directly on the Hessle clay, into which roots penetrated to a distance of 5 or 6 feet, generally following the direction of vertical joints, which gave the clay a tendency to split into prisms. These joints did not occur in
On the Age of the Nubian Sandstone
Authors: Tate Ralph 
Published: October 2009

M
r
. B
auerman
, in a recent number of the Quarterly Journal of this Society (vol. xxv. p. 27), has discussed at some length the opinions advanced respecting the age of the sandstone strata underlying the Cretaceous limestones, and resting upon the granitic and schistose rocks, in Sinai. These rocks belong to the same series of sandstones described by Russegger as occurring in Egypt, Nubia, and Arabia Petræa, under the name of “Nubian Sandstone.”

Though the facts that I have the honour to submit to the Society may be stated in a few words, yet it seems desirable to recapitulate briefly the views that have been advanced as to the period of deposition of the strata in question, the better to explain away those inferences which are so much at variance with my own.
In the first place, it appears, from the circumstance of the Nubian Sandstone being overlain conformably by approximately horizontal strata of Cretaceous age, that this formation has been regarded, in the absence of palæontological evidence to the contrary, as forming part of the Mesozoic group of rocks. Thus Russegger colours and describes it as Lower Cretaceous in his maps ; and Bauerman, guided by the lithologieal similarity of its strata to the Lower New Red Sandstone about Chester, has placed it on the horizon of the Trias ; whilst Figari Bey seems to have regarded the tripartite arrangement and lithological features of the series as suflleient tests by which to assign the whole to the Trias, “taking the
Memoranda on the most recent Geological Changes of the Rivers and Plains of Northern India, founded on Accurate Surveys and the Artesian Well-boring at Umballa, to show the practical application of Mr. Login's Theory of the abrading and transporting power of water to effect such changes
Authors: Login T. 
Published: October 2009

Abstract

T
he
author commenced by referring to the general conditions of the surface of the country under consideration, and to the evidence afforded by it of a great decrease in the amount of rainfall, and a great change in the nature of the rivers. His object was to show that the superficial deposits of the plains of India were formed by the action of mountain-streams, the deposits being irregular transversely, but exhibiting a uniform section longitudinally, in a curve which the author believed to be a true parabola, as indicated by Mr. Taylor. The connexion of this with the author's theory as to the transporting power of water was indicated. The author also showed that the beds of the large Indian rivers are rising rather than being lowered, and pointed out that this was in accordance with his theory.
On some Points in South-African Geology
Authors: Stow George William 
Published: October 2009

Introduction
Whatever advances geology has made during the last twenty-five years in South Africa (with which the names of Bain, Atherstone, and Rubidge will be ever connected), it must be confessed that we are but mere students in the elementary portion of this part of the great “stone book of nature;” and it may be expected that every new investigation will bring to light facts, and lead to conclusions, of which at present we have but a feeble and imperfect notion.
To the present time geological knowledge in South Africa has progressed but slowly. The great broad outlines of the geology of the country have been traced by those whose names have been mentioned; but the minutiæ have yet to be filled up. The South-African explorer labours under many serious disadvantages, not only from the horizontal position of many of the strata, but from the want (with the exception of a few mountain-passes) of great road-cuttings, and from the absence of mining operations, so that he has to depend upon the escarpments found along the river-valleys and mountain-sides, leaving large intervening tracts that must still remain in some degree of uncertainty until opportunities shall arise for their more definite examination.

With regard to the fossiliferous strata in the neighbourhood of Port Elizabeth, and of the Zwartkops and Sundays Rivers, for a long time I had felt that too much had been done in the way of curiosity-hunting, by
mixing
and generalizing all the fossils of what has been termed the
The Physical History of the Valley of the Rhine
Authors: Ramsay A. C. 
Published: October 2009

Having on several journeys, extending over more than twenty years, had occasion to traverse the valley of the Rhine, from the plains between the sea and Cologne to its sources in the Alps, I have long desired to explain, if possible, the physical origin of the valley, and especially of the part that lies between the Drachenfels and Basel. Other occupations for the last thirteen years prevented me from revisiting the greater part of the ground; and I had therefore no opportunity of testing the truth of such hypotheses as had occurred to me.
Last summer I revisited the country, spending nearly six weeks on the investigation of the subject; and the following paper embodies the broader conclusions at which I arrived. First, however, it may be useful briefly to sketch the great features of the valley of the Rhine, from its sources to its mouth.
Geological Notes on a Journey from Algiers to the Sahara
Authors: Maw George 
Published: October 2009

During the spring of 1873 I paid a short visit to the province of Algiers, and beg to lay before the Society the result of my observations on the main geological features of the district between Algiers and the Sahara.
The military road running almost due north and south from the Mediterranean coast of Algiers to the borders of the desert at L'Aghouat, the most southern French military outpost, and crossing nearly at right angles the prevalent line of strike and trend of the high and low ground, suggested itself to me as affording the most comprehensive section in a continuous line that could be selected for my object, which was to compare the geological features of Algeria with those of Marocco observed during my visits to that country in the years 1869 and 1871.
Very little has heretofore been written about the geology of Algeria; and, indeed, the best published maps fall short of giving a correct delineation of even the hill- and valley-systems of the country.