70 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [Dec. 4,
The phosphatic masses were frequently drilled and filled with glauconite
and other matter. He doubted the ventriculite origin of
many of the nodules, and pointed out that the so-called Ventriculites
were in reality Ocellarioe.
Mr. H. Woodward mentioned that a similar structure to that described in the Ventriculites had been discovered by Mr. Kent in a modern siliceous sponge, and observed on the similarity in some respects between ventriculite structure and that of Euplectella aspergillum. He thought that, whatever might be the origin of some of the chalk-flints and phosphatic nodules, it was unsafe to refer the whole of them to the growth of sponges.
Mr. Fisher, in reply, did not agree with some of the speakers in considering that various organic remains were often found imbedded in coprolitic matter, though many were filled or partially covered with it. There was, he thought, a difference between the coprolites of the Crag and those of the Greensand; the surface of the great bulk of the latter had to his eye an unmistakably organic appearance. In some cases he thought they might have been allied to Alcyonaria. He did not agree with Mr. Seeley as to many of them being in a rolled condition.
Mr. Sollas stated that some of the coprolites contained siliceous Xanthidia and Polycystina uninjured, which afforded an argument against regarding the Ventriculites as having originally had a siliceous skeleton which had subsequently been replaced by phosphate of lime. He had also found well-preserved siliceous spicules in the coprolites. The forms, though numerous, were well defined and susceptible of classification, which he had attempted to undertake. He could not acknowledge any mistake in reference to Porospongia.
December 18, 1872.
Benjamin Winstone, Esq., 53 Russell Square, "W.C.; William Aubone Potter, Esq., of Cramlington House, Northumberland; Thomas Sopwith, Jun., Esq., the Holmes, Nightingale Lane, Clapham Common; Philip Charles Hardwick, Esq., 21 Cavendish Square, W.; Frederick George Hilton Price, Esq., 25 Clarendon Gardens, Maida Vale, N.W.; Charles Lapworth, Esq., Abbotsford Road, Galashiels, N.B.; Henry Brogden, Esq., of the Llynn, Tondu, and Ogmore Coal and Iron Works, Glamorganshire; John Wonnacott, Esq., 15 Haddington Road, Stoke Devonport; and Alfred Cecil Crutwell, Esq., Cardiff, were elected Fellows of the Society.
The following communications were read:—
1. Further Notes on the Punfield Section. By C. J. A. Meyer, Esq., F.G.S.
In a paper read before the Society in March 1872*, I stated my conviction that the so-called "Punfield Formation"† of the Isle of
- Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. vol. xxviii. p. 252.
† Judd, ibid. vol. xxvii. p. 207.
