Page:Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London, vol. 28.djvu/545

Finally, the Solenastræa I described in Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. vol. xxvii. p. 369 is probably a remanié fossil^[1]. It is remarkable that the present coral fauna of the British seas should be so poorly represented in the Crag deposits.

The resemblance of the new species to Trochocyathus meridionalis, Duncan, of the Australian marine Upper Tertiaries below the horizon of the so-called Pliocene is remarkable; but it probably depends upon the descent of both forms from some unknown Jurassic or Cretaceous ancestor.

 

EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXVIII.

Fig. 1. Calice of Trochocyathus anglicus: nat. size.

2. The same, magnified.
3. Side view of the corallum.
4. The base, magnified.
5. 5a. The corallum of Solenastræa Prestwichi: nat. size.
6. The calice, greatly magnified.
7. The epitheca, magnified.

8. The endotheca, greatly magnified.

 

Discussion.

Mr. Prestwich inquired whether the fossil bore any resemblance to any of the French Eocene forms, and whether there was any possibility of its being derivative.

Prof. Duncan replied that the specimen was but little worn, and was therefore probably not remanié, though this point was not absolutely certain.

 

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2. On the Discovery of Palæolithic Implements in Association with Elephas primigenius in the Gravels of the Thames Valley at Acton. By Colonel A. Lane Fox, F.G.S.

The gravels and brick-earths of this part of the Thames valley have been classed by Mr. Prestwich^[2] and Mr. Whitaker into two principal groups;—1st, the high-level gravels of Mr. Prestwich, occupying the summits of the hills above the valley; and, 2ndly, the valley-gravels, occupying the sides and bottom of the valley itself.

With respect to the former, or high-level gravels, some slight difference of opinion appears at one time to have existed between the two authorities whom I have quoted—Mr. Prestwich including the gravels upon Wimbledon, Wandsworth, and Clapham Commons amongst the high-level gravels, whilst Mr. Whitaker considers the gravels of Wandsworth and Clapham Commons to belong to the valley-gravels. He, indeed, if I understand rightly his memoir on Sheet 7 of the Geological Survey Map^[3], appears to think it possible that

1. As I find that this species cannot be figured, as I expected, in the 'Memoirs of the Palæontographical Society,' I have inserted figures showing its form and characters on the plate illustrating the new species described in the present paper.
2. The Ground beneath us, its Geological Phases and Changes. By Joseph Prestwich, F.R.S., F.G.S.
3. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, Sheet 7 of the Map of the Geological Survey.