The collecting expedition to the Fayüm in the Spring of 1906 did not result in the discovery of any striking new forms, but nevertheless a large number of specimens was obtained, some of which add considerably to our knowledge of species already imperfectly described. Of these specimens the most important are: (1) An associated skull and mandible of Palœomastodon wintoni with the upper and lower dentition, including the tusks, in perfect preservation; an atlas, humerus, radius, part of an ulna, and some vertebræ of the same individual were also found, and confirm the determinations that had previously been made from isolated examples. (2) A beautifully preserved mandible of a very young Palœomastodon, probably the same species. In this specimen the two posterior milk-teeth are in position, while the anterior one is represented by its empty alveolus. Beneath the two milk molars are the germs of pm. 3 and pm. 4, almost ready to replace them vertically in the ordinary way.

The voyage of the “Beagle ” in 1831–6 was not only the starting-point of Charles Darwin's scientific career, but also, and more particularly, it laid the foundation for the whole of his geological work, as embodied in the well-known series of volumes. The collections which, he gathered during that prolonged voyage of exploration have therefore no small interest of a historical and sentimental kind. It is believed that they possess also a certain intrinsic value; inasmuch as an examination of these original specimens, with the advantages conferred by modern petrographical methods, may sometimes help towards a better understanding of the recorded observations. Owing to his choice of plain language in preference to the now antiquated terminology of his time, Darwin is seldom obscure to a modern reader; but his characterization of the ‘igneous rocks which he observed is necessarily crude and vague. Not a few passages may be considerably elucidated by merely indicating the nature of the rocks which are designated by such old-fashioned comprehensive names as ‘porphyry,’ ‘greenstone,’ and ‘basalt.’

Spheroidal concretions from the Yarra estuary which were to found to contain plant-remains were described by Mr. Chapman recently in this journal. The structures in themselves are of considerable interest to geologists, and also to palæobotanists from the fact that they contain “matted fragments of woody and foliaceous-material.” They were made the subject of some comparisons with the calcareous concretions from the Lancashire Coal-measures, and as a result certain general considerations were brought forward, which call for comment, and which are of sufficient importance to receive attention.

The numerous and full accounts of the Crustacea (apart from trilobites) from the Girvan area which Professor Rupert Jones, Dr. H. Woodward, Mr. R. Etheridge, jun., and others have published during the last three or four decades may seem to render any further remarks by me superfluous. But at Dr. Henry Woodward's suggestion Mrs. Gray recently sent to me some fresh material for examination, which, in addition to yielding some new species, throws some interesting light upon previously described forms, and permits some further details to be added to our knowledge of them.

Changes in the relative level of sea and land along the oceanic borders of the globe seem to have been in continual progress during the entire historic period. Too slow and gradual for direct observation, they can only be detected through comparison of ancient with modern maps, records, or statements. This comparison has now, in hundreds of cases, been made, and it is well established that stability of coastline is the exception, movement of elevation or depression the rule. In one region, it has been observed, the sea for long periods of time has been in continual retreat; at another location it has been long advancing over the land, while at some third point it seems to have remained fixed in position.

In the Geological Magazine for 1906 a key of the published figures of the Cretaceous forms referable to the genus Entalophora was offered in the hope that by means of it the difficulties attendant on the determination of the species of this genus might be obviated.

While travelling over the country it may be noticed that the land is not uniformly fertile. In some places there is greater luxuriance and greater variety of plant life than in others. The question which such observations call forth is what is the cause of these differences? An attempt has been made to give some sort of answer to this question in the following manner:—A limited area has been selected which is traversed by a number of geological formations, and the plants growing on that area have been catalogued. The area selected in the present instance is the county of Surrey, that being the county which is best known to me. Surrey is too small a county to have any difference of climate. The differences of altitude would probably bring about some variety in the flora, but the differences of latitude could scarcely have any appreciable effect. The county is, however, large enough to include a dozen different rock formations within its boundary, and it seems fair to presume that these may have a considerable influence in determining the distribution and variation of its flora.