Page:Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London, vol. 25.djvu/354

 which came with the salt are of Miocene age. In other West- India islands gypsum of Miocene age occurred, and pseudomorphs of salt. He recommended Mr. Sawkins's work on the Geology of the West Indies to the attention of geologists.

4. A Description of the " Broads" of East Norfolk, showing their Origin, Position, and Formation in the Valleys of the Rivers Bure, Yare, and Wavney. By Richard B. Grantham, Esq., C.E., F.G.S.

[Abridged.]

The author described the " Broads " of East Norfolk as large lakes of fresh water situated in the valleys of certain rivers, such as the Bure, Yare, and Waveney, although never directly in their course, the distance of the Broads from the above-mentioned rivers being from one quarter of a mile to three miles. They are, however, connected with the rivers by watercourses. The Broads in the valleys of the rivers Bure, Yare, and Waveney are thirty in number, twenty- three of which are in the valley of the first-named river. The author gives the following list of them with their areas in acres : —

I. On the River Bure and its Tributaries.

Acres.

Ormesby, Rollesby, & Filby 464.9 Walsham 62.1 Ranworth 117.6 Little 13.3 Decoy 22.0 Salhouse 22.8 Burnt Fen 11.7 Hoveton, Little 57.6 Hoveton, Great 121.5 Wroxham 92.4 Bridge 12.8 Belaugh 12.0 Catfield 22.4 Oliver 23.0 Barton 229.6 Stalham 75.6 Dilham 17.6 Hickling & Whitesley 578.0 Womack 25.5 Chapmans 46.8 Martham 115.5 Horsey 130.6 Calthorpe 13.8

II. On the River Yare.

Buckenham 20.1 Strumpshaw 17.1 Rockland 117.0 Surlingham 104.0 Catfield ... Oliver. . . Barton ... Stalham... Dilham. . . Hickling& Whitesley Womack.

III. On the River Waveney. Fritton 157.0 Flixton 12.8 Oulton 99.0

The aggregate area amounts to 2816 acres.

Many of the Broads are being reduced in size by the deposition of decaying vegetable matter, and the accumulation of detritus brought into them by the small streams which feed them. The bottoms of Martham, Hickling, Whitesley, and Horsey Broads are about on the level of low water at Yarmouth; the bottom of the united Ormesby, Rollesby, and Filby Broads is from 12 to 14 feet below that level. The surface of the water in the last-named Broad is about 2 or 3 feet above that of high water.

The author maintains that the " Broads," although freshwater lakes, are relics of a time when the whole of these valleys were submerged, and in fact formed great estuaries. He instances the salt-