170 



Notes on the Inferior Oolite Beds in the neighbourhood of Bath, by 

 W. V. GUISE, F.L.S., F.G.S. 



READ TO COTTESWOID NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB, FEB. 15, 1859. 



I PROPOSE, in the following observations, to introduce to my asso- 

 ciates of the Cotteswold Club a notice respecting the Oolitic deposits 

 in the neighbourhood of Bath, with reference, more particularly, to 

 some peculiarities presented by the Inferior Oolite beds in that 

 district, and to the relations which they offer to those of the 

 Cotteswolds. 



In the course of the late autumn I was enabled to devote three 

 weeks to the study of the Geology of the Bath district, in which I 

 had the advantage of the frequent companionship of the well-known 

 and accomplished Palaeontologist, Mr. Charles Moore, to whose 

 guidance I owe it that I was enabled to visit many points of interest 

 and importance which would otherwise have escaped my obser- 

 vation. 



My remarks having reference more particularly to the beds of the 

 Inferior Oolite, it is not my intention to do more than to glance 

 cursorily at the underlying clays, of the extent and peculiarities of 

 which it is not easy to form a correct estimate ; as, in the immediate 

 neighbourhood of Bath, the Lias is rarely exposed to any extent, and, 

 excepting in well-sinking or in digging the foundations of houses, 

 few opportunities offer for its examination. 



Lonsdale, in his Memoir on the Oolitic district of Bath, in the 

 3rd Volume of the Transactions of the Geological Society, estimates 

 the entire thickness of the Lias in that vicinity at somewhat less 

 than 300 feet, and probably this may be viewed as a fair approximate 

 average; but the thickness of the deposit varies considerably in 

 different localities. In the Charlcombe Valley, it certainly exceeds 



