The following notes upon the Kuriles were collected during an excursion which I made to these islands in the summer of 1878. Owing to a continuance of foggy weather, which I do not think would find its equal even in Newfoundland, the want of harbours, and the strong currents, although I was almost a month steaming. amongst these islands, it was seldom that we could effect a landing. In consequence of this the bulk of the material embodied in the following notes was written from what I saw from the deck of our vessel. However, as I had good opportunities for seeing nearly every island in the group, and many of these from several points of view, the following notes may not be altogether without value. One advantage which was gained by viewing these island from a distance was, that I was thereby better able to judge of the number, and the general from of the mountains they contained, and to roughly make comparisons of their relative heights, than I could have done had I been actually on the island themselves.

From the comments on my discussion of the relations existing between the Dingle beds and the Glengariff grits, with the accompanying diagrammatic section (Geol. of Ireland, chap. iv. p. 52), it would appear that it is not as clear as it might be. I therefore propose now to explain myself more fully on this subject.

A somewhat detailed description of the surface deposits of North-eastern Iowa, with references to observations of a similar nature in other localities, and some general conclusions, was read by the author before the American Association at its St. Louis meeting, and is printed in the Proceedings for 1878. Since the preparation of that paper additional observations have been made in the same region; and some other localities, mainly in the State of Illinois, have been visited. A general section has been made across the northern portion of this State, from the Mississippi on the west to Lake Michigan on this east, at about 42° N. lat. A like section has been made the greater part of the length of the State from north to south, at about long. 89° W. from Greenwich. The data employed in the construction of these sections were chiefly derived from personal observations on the surface, in channels of erosion, and in artificial excavations on the surface, in channels of erosion, and in artificial excavations; but use has also been made of observations of other persons, collected by means of extensive inquiries from, and correspondence with, local geologists and others. In Iowa a formation, believed to be distinct from any previously described, has been discovered, and a rather anomalous distribution of the member considered to be the equivalent of the loess has been brought to light. Several åsar, which seem to be homologous with those of Scandinavia, have also been traced over some distance.

Notwithstanding the distinct assertion by more than one geologist1 of the intrusive character of the serpentines of these districts, some uncertainty seems to exist on this point and still more as to the original character of the rock. Hence the result of my examination of a few localities, and of my subsequent studies of the rocks then obtained, may be of sufficient interest to justify publication.