In this paper it is proposed (1) to describe the superficial deposits along the coast between Sunderland and Ryhope, (2) to give a short account of the beds exposed in the recent excavations at the Sunderland Barracks, and (3) to attempt a correlation of the Glacial and Post-Glacial deposits of the East of Durham. It is felt by the authors that a true conception of the sequence of events during the Pleistocene and Recent periods will be eventually obtained by the examination of typical areas and by the working out of the succession and mode of origin of the deposits in such regions.

A few years ago Mr. W. J. Rees had occasion to analyse samples of sandstones from the Coal Measures of Yorkshire, which had been used for the grinding of tools and rough castings. As the unused portions of the original samples were still available, it was thought that a record of these analyses, accompanied by petrological descriptions of the stones, might be of interest and of use. The subject of grindstone petrology is one which appears to have received little attention in this country. Merrill, however, in 1905, gave brief descriptions of various grindstones then used in America; among these he included the “Wickersley Rock”, which here receives further attention.

The typoscript of this paper was found by me among my father's MSS., after his death on 11th April, 1923. There was evidence to show that it was written rather earlier than 1908, and it is obviously the first part of a paper which had been put on one side during the preparation of “The Pliocene Mollusca of Great Britain”. The typoscript ended with the heading “Floods of Miocene and Pliocene Periods”, but I have no reason to believe that this section was ever prepared. The three figures here reproduced were with the typoscript, but others which it had been intended to use in illustration of the paper have not been found.