EXCURSION OF THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION TO ILFORD. 47
papers and other appliances used in his experiments, and explaining their optical
action. He made several references to the work of the chairman, Professor
Meldola, upon the colours of insects, and said that it was Meldola's translation
of Dr. Weismann's "Studies in the Theory of Descent," published in 1882,
which first directed his attention to this fascinating subject.
Mr. Poulton had to leave hurriedly in order to catch the return train to
Oxford, so that no discussion was possible ; but a very cordial vote of thanks was
passed, and the chairman said that, although they all regretted the cause of Col.
Swinhoe's absence, it was evident that they had lost nothing in having such an
address from a master of his subject. He recommended all interested to read
Mr. Poulton's book on "Colours of Animals" (Intern. Sci. Series, 1890), in which
his important researches were summarised.
A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Wire for providing and skilfully manipu-
lating the lantern.
Tea and coffee were served as usual in an upper room of the building.
EXCURSION OF THE GEOLOGISTS'
ASSOCIATION TO ILFORD.
ON Saturday, March 25th, about fifty members of the Geologists' Associa-
tion visited Ilford, under the experienced guidance of Mr. F. C. J.
Spurrell, in order to inspect the brickyards so famous for the quantity of
mammalian and other remains which have been found in them from time to
time. Strange to say, the Association does not appear to have visited these pits
since June, 1871, but the Essex Field Club had a most interesting visit there in
July, 1880, under the guidance of the late Sir Antonio Brady, Mr. A. R. Wallace,
and Mr. Henry Walker (see report in Journal of Proceedings, E.F.C, vol. i,
pp. xxviii.). At Ilford, as a glance at the Geological Survey map shows, the
river-gravel is covered by a few feet of clay and brickearth. The first pit visited
was east of the town of Ilford and north of the railway, between Ley Street and
St. Mary's Church, where "fossil remains found here," may be seen on the
Ordnance map of 6 inches to a mile. The second pit was south of the railway
and east of St. Mary's Church. In each pit the section consisted of sand at the
bottom with loam and clay, containing many of the calcareous nodules known as
race, above the sand. The surface beds to a depth of about three feet were very
variable and irregular, some fine gravel being seen here and there. Penetrating
into the clayey beds for some feet were veins of sand of a few inches in breadth.
The mammalian remains for which these pits are famous were found chiefly in the
sand underlying the clay and loam. Dr. H. Woodward remarked at the last
visit of the Association to Ilford, that though elephant remains had been
obtained both from Ilford and Grays, Elephas primigenius (the mammoth) was
the common species at Ilford, and Elephas antiquus at Grays. But the reader
desiring full details of these Ilford sections must be referred to Mr. Whitaker's
Memoir on "The Geology of London and of part of the Thames Valley," vol 1,
pp. 410—15. A section of the Uphall Pit, the sides of which are now sloped and
afford no section whatever, may be seen in the "Record of Excursions of the
Geologists' Association," p. 174. As it is probable that the pits near St Mary's
Church will shortly be in the same condition, members of the Essex Field Club
interested in geology should visit them before it is too late.