184 



described by Mr. Lycett, as occurring at the base of the same 

 beds at Nailsworth, and containing a great number of the same 

 fossils. 



This most interesting discovery again raised the moot point 

 respecting the relationship of these " Sands" to the beds imme- 

 diately above and below them. The Secretary, in common with 

 others of our most observant and skilful Paleontologists, deem- 

 ing that the passage thus traced throughout these " Sands " of 

 Oolitic forms of lamellibranchiate Molluscs in greatly prepon- 

 derating proportions, intermingled, however, with true liassic 

 forms, determines the transitional characters of the beds in ques- 

 tion, and entitles them to have assigned to them a distinct 

 position as an intermediate zone between the Lias and the 

 Inferior Oolite. On the other hand, our learned colleague, Dr. 

 Wright, arguing from the liassic type of the Cephalopods in the 

 bed above, allocates the " Sands " with the liassic series below ; 

 this too being the position now generally assigned to them by the 

 leading Continental Geologists. It is, however, but just to add, 

 that English Geologists seem by no means as yet to have made 

 up their minds upon the subject. It appears to me to be quite 

 one of those points which a local society like ours may well set 

 itself to clear up ; though, in doing so, it must be borne in mind 

 that the facts which we furnish, though most valuable, are strictly 

 local, and must be considered, not merely with reference to the 

 phenomena which they more immediately illustrate, but that they 

 must be compared with facts, from other and more distant 

 localities, carefully collected by competent observers, and all 

 bearing upon the same point. Thus, and thus only, can we hope 

 to arrive at truth, and by degrees to unravel the great mystery of 

 the succession of life during the countless ages of geological 

 development. 



At this Meeting the question of the Cleeve Hill roadslones 

 was again brought under discussion, when Dr. Wright fully 

 assented to the position assigned to them by the Secretary, and 

 proceeded to explain his views upon the subject by a lecture, 

 which he illustrated by diagrams with chalk upon a black board. 



Dr. Wright has favoured me with the substance of his 

 remarks in writing, which I deem of sufficient value and import- 

 ance to embody in this address. They are as follows : 



Remarks, by Dr. WRIGHT, on the " Roadstones " of Cleeve Hill 



On leaving the Winchcombe road, about a quarter of a mile 

 beyond the " Rising Sun," by the new stables, and ascending 

 the escarpment at this point, the " Pea-grit" is seen in situ near 

 the wall, containing Terebratula simplex, Pygaster semisulcatus , 

 numerous fragments of Pentacrinites and other fossils of this 

 rock. A few yards above, the Freestone, much displaced, crops 



