have twisted in the least.

The 'extractor' was then lowered to break off and draw up the core. A length of 18 inches only was brought to the surface, and this was in three pieces. Upon each of these pieces the vertical marks of the cutters were found, and the lines were seen to be so cut as to show that when they were made, the parts of the core were yet in their relative positions. The force, moreover, which had to be applied to break the core before it could be raised, as well as the unrubbed condi tion of the lowest of its pieces, sufficed to prove that all the parts were in situ at the time at which they were marked.

A length of core still remaining fixed at bottom, the wax was sent down again. This time, the bottom of the marking tube lodged for an instant during its descent on the top of a lining tube some 800 feet down, but at once swung off, giving a shock to the rods that caused the radial arm to strike against the staging and turn slightly round on the rod to which it was clamped. The lowering was then completed, the impression taken, and the tube brought up again. It was found to have turned through an angle of 3° 11' from the direction in which it stood before being lowered. Taking into consideration the fact that when no accidental disturbance occurred no variation was observable, and that the direction of the displacement corresponded with what would be caused by the blow on the arm, it was clearly justifiable to assume that the angular movement observed was entirely attributable to the shifting of the descending pointer at the time of the lodgment on the side of the hole. By taking the bearing of the marked diameter as it returned to the surface instead of as it commenced to go down, the error due to the misfortune was corrected. When the core was brought up there was no difficulty in fitting the wax cast to the rock and transferring the diametrical line.

The two experiments gave identical results, and from this it was computed that the direction of the dip of the Devonian Rock at Turnford at a depth of 994 feet below the surface, and 14 feet below the top of the stratum, is about 17° west of true south. The angle of dip is about 25° from the horizon, as shown by numerous layers of fossils.

It thus appears that at both places these ancient rocks dip in directions lying between south and sou'-sou'-west, and by placing on a geological map of the south-eastern portion of England lines to show the ascertained bearings (fig. 13), it is at once seen that the greatest inclinations of the strata are, roughly speaking, at right angles to the directions of the chief axes of the Weald. Soon after the completion of the borings a statement seems to have been made, without due authority, that the general direction of the dip had been found to be towards the south-east, and, unfortunately, the mistake does not seem to have been publicly refuted until now. It is time that this misconception were removed, for geologists who are interested in the search for coal in the eastern counties evidently attach considerable importance to a correct knowledge of the disposition of these Paleozoic rocks.

Mathematical accuracy could not be expected in operations of this nature, but I believe the bearings of the lines of dip at both places, as herein given, may be looked upon as practically correct, the maximum possible error being not more than one degree east or west. Before the various appliances were perfected there occurred numerous failures to which no reference has been made, but the details given tend to show that no trouble was spared to attain satisfactory results. More than a month was entirely devoted to this ascertainment of the direction of the dip at each place, and in some cases several days were spent in a single operation of lowering and

raising the rods. It will be admitted that all was done with due deliberation and care, whilst the composition of the Committee was a guarantee that the methods employed were the best adapted for the purpose.

With regard to the still more important question that the New River Company undertook to solve, viz., that of the existence or the non-existence of the Lower Green Sand beneath the district north of London, it will be generally felt that, although very large sums of money were spent, there is no reason for regretting the expenditure, inasmuch as it decided a question of the greatest importance to the Metropolis.

I am glad to have had the opportunity of making known some of the facts connected with this inquiry, and hope that sufficient evidence has been brought forward to prove that the statements now made with respect to the lie of the Paleozoic rocks at Ware and Turnford may be accepted as perfectly trustworthy.

Physiological Applications of the Phonograph.-Report by the Committee, consisting of Professor JOHN G. MCKENDRICK (Chairman), Professor G. G. MURRAY, Mr. DAVID S. WINGATE, and Mr. JOHN S. MCKENDRICK, on the Physiological Applications of the Phonograph, and on the True Form of the Voice-curves made by the Instrument.

THE work of the Committee, up to the present time, has devolved almost entirely upon Dr. McKendrick, who has embodied the results of his researches in the paper published in the number for July 1895 of the 'Journal of Anatomy and Physiology,' of which the following is an abstract :

1. Increasing the Volume of Tone.-The Committee have succeeded in accomplishing this (1) by the use of conical resonators, of great size, and made of tin or aluminium; and (2) by combining with the phonograph Alfred Graham's transmitter and loud-speaking telephone.

2. Study of the Marks on the Cylinder of the Phonograph.-The physical nature of the marks on the wax cylinder have been investigated in the following three ways: (1) Taking a cast in celloidin of the surface of the cylinder; (2) taking micro-photographs of portions of the surface of the cylinder; and (3) recording the curves on a slowly moving surface. The best results were obtained by methods (2) and (3), and these will be found fully described and illustrated by three plates in the 'Journal of Anatomy and Physiology' for July 1895, vol. xxix. (new series; vol. ix., part iv.), p. 583.

The Committee desire reappointment and an additional grant of 251. It is proposed to carry out the following work during the year 1895-6:1. To continue the investigation of phonographic curves, especially those of the voice, and to submit these to harmonic analysis.

2. To obtain phonographic records of dialects, with the view of ascertaining how far such records could be made available for philological purposes. It has been suggested that such a series of records, deposited in the British Museum, might in after times, long after dialects had become altered or had disappeared, be of great value to philologists.

3. To endeavour to obtain phonographic records of cardiac and respiratory sounds.

The Marine Zoology, Botany, and Geology of the Irish Sea.--Third Report of the Committee, consisting of Professor A. C. HADDON, Professor G. B. HowES, Mr. W. E. HOYLE, Mr. CLEMENT REID, Mr. I. C. THOMPSON, Mr. A. O. WALKER, Professor F. E. WEISS, and Professor W. A. HERDMAN (Chairman and Reporter).

As in the previous reports, the work has this year been, of necessity, chiefly carried out by those members of the Committee who live near the scene of action, and have been working at the Port Erin Biological Station. Mr. Clement Reid, however, has been able to undertake in London some geological investigations of the deposits dredged up and sent to the Jermyn Street Museum, and his preliminary report will be found below. Professor Weiss has been prevented by illness from helping in regard to the botany of the district, but hopes still to undertake the work. Mr. Walker and Mr. Thompson have contributed special reports on the Crustacea; the rest of this report has been drawn up by the Chairman of the Committee, with the help of various naturalists whose names are mentioned in connection with their work.

The Committee have carried on their usual exploring work by means of dredging expeditions and otherwise during the year. The specimens obtained have been worked up by specialists, and the most noteworthy additions to the lists are given below. The Committee do not propose, however, to give so detailed a report this year, as they desire, if reappointed, to draw up for next year's meeting of the Association at Liverpool a final report with complete lists, which they would appropriately illustrate by the exhibition at Liverpool of the collections made, and by dredging expeditions, both from Liverpool and Port Erin, to enable the biologists and geologists present at the meeting to judge of the work of the Committee and examine their results.

The following, therefore, is merely a brief outline of the work undertaken during the past year; with a discussion-for which the chairman is chiefly responsible of some parts of the investigations.

DREDGING EXPEDITIONS.

The Committee have organised the following expeditions since the last report :

I. August 19, 1894.-Hired steam trawler 'Lady Loch.' Localities dredged, around the Calf Island and to the west of Port Erin, at depths of about 20 fathoms.

II. August 25, 1894.--Hired steam trawler Albatross.' Localities dredged, the open sea between Isle of Man and Ireland, at depths down to over 50 fathoms. On this occasion some specimens of the tubebuilding polynoid worm Panthalis Oerstedi were obtained, for Mr. Watson's observations on the building habits, which have since been published.1 We also on this occasion photographed various kinds of deposits and assemblages of animals as they came up in the dredge.

III. September 30, 1894.-Hired steam steam trawler 'Lady Loch.' Localities dredged, along the west side of the Isle of Man, at depths down to 60 fathoms.

1 Trans. Biol. Soc., Liverpool, vol. ix. p. 169.

IV. April 15, 1895.-Hired steam trawler 'Lady Loch.' Localities dredged, to the west and north-west of Port Erin, at depths of 20 to 40 fathoms.

V. April 25, 1895.-Hired steam trawler 'Lady Loch.' Localities dredged, to the west and south of Port Erin at depths of 30 to 40 fathoms.

At one spot, 6 miles S.E. of Calf Island, 31 fathoms, bottom sand gravel and shells, such a rich haul was obtained that the trawl-net tore away, and only a small part of the contents was recovered. That contained, however, a number of specimens of the rare shrimp Pontophilus spinosus, Leach, along with Munida rugosa, Ebalia tumefacta and E. tuberosa, Xantho tuberculatus, Pandalus brevirostris, Anapagurus Hyndmanni, Campylaspis sp., and Melphidippella macera amongst crustaceans, and the following Echinodermata :-Palmipes membranaceus, Porania pulvillus, Stichaster rosea, Lluidea Savignii, Synapta inhærens, and other holothurians. There were also, of course, many mollusca, worms, &c., and an unfamiliar actinian, which Professor Haddon considers to be probably his new species Paraphellia expansa, hitherto only known from deep water off the south-west coast of Ireland.

VI. June 1, 1895.-Hired steam trawler 'Lady Loch.' Localities dredged, Calf Sound and off S.E. of Isle of Man, at depths of 15 to 20 fathoms.

VII. June 23, 1895.-Hired steam trawler Rose Ann.' Localities dredged, to the W. and N.W. of Peel and Ballaugh, on the North Bank,' at depths about 20 fathoms.

VIII. August 3, 1895.-Lancashire Sea Fisheries steamer 'John Fell.' Localities dredged and trawled, Red Wharf Bay and off Point Lynas, on north coast of Anglesey, at depths of 6 to 17 fathoms.

IX. August 19, 1895.-Steamer John Fell.' Localities dredged, Carnarvon Bay, on south coast of Anglesey; depths 15 to 18 fathoms.

ADDITIONS TO THE FAUNA.

In addition to these steamer' expeditions there has been frequent dredging and tow-netting from small boats, and a good deal of shore collecting.'

Amongst the more noteworthy animals collected in the district during the year are the following::

PORIFERA.

The sponge, Myxilla irregularis, Bowerbank, previously only known from the Diamond Ground, Hastings, was found by Dr. Hanitsch at Port Erin and at Fleshwick in August and September 1894.

CELENTERATA.

Mr. Edward T. Browne has drawn up a list of thirty-four species of MEDUSE which are found in the district, and of these the following are specially noteworthy :-Amphicodon fritillaria (carrying young hydroids in the umbrellar cavity), Dysmorphosa minima, Cytæandra areolata (?), Lizzia blondina Laodice calcarata (new to European seas) and Eutima