of the Malvern HilU. 99 



are neither chemically or mechanically connected with those formations, 

 hut of a much older date. 



4. That as they are older, so they assume a more lofty situation than the sur- 



rounding more modem formations, even than the oolite capping the 

 summits of the Cotteswold range, or the transition limestone of Bristol 

 and Calesford. 



5. and lastly^ That, in their nature, situation, and appearance, they hear evi- 



dence with the granitic hills of Cumberland, North Wales, Anglesea, 

 Cornwall, and more esj)ecially Mount Sorrel in Leicestershire, that the 

 intricate and numerously alternating modem formations of England, lie 

 upon rocks of granite *. 

 In their mechanical analysis, the Malvern Hills aifbrd 



A highly crystalline compound of flesh-coloured felspar and quarts;. 

 Of felspar, quartz and mica. 

 Of felspar, quartz, and hornblende. 

 Of felspar, quartz, hornblende, and mica. 

 Of felspar and mica. " 



These are all referrible to the class Granite, varying in the predominance and 

 proportion of the ingredients. In the next transition, the rock becomes more 

 compact in its texture ; and the folia of mica ranging themselves in lamina?, 

 give a veined appearance to the formation. This is genuine gneiss, distin- 

 guishable, as found on the Malvern Hills, into 



\st^ Gneiss, in which felspar and quartz are tht'most abimdant ingredients. 

 2</, In which felspar and mica alternate in layers. 



3rf, In which mica becomes the predominant ingredient, verging into mica- 

 slate. 

 The compounds of felspar and mica exist, 1*/, In a highly crystalline state. 

 2(i, In a state in which the felspar becoming decomposed, offers a clay-slate 

 basis to crystals or foliae of mica. 3rf, In which the felspar is almost entirely 

 lost, and the mica assumes a metallic lustre and appearance. 



The gneiss varies from its veined structure into a compact granular green 

 rock, whose principal ingre<lient is generally quartz, at first slightly lamellar, 

 and soon becoming small-grained lamellar, and more indistinctly crystallized 

 (chlorite-slate). 



The geographical distribution of Plants on the Malvern Hills does not offer 

 any very remarkable features. Their height does not allow of the growth in 

 a single latitude of plants of a whole zone ; and the temperature at the sum- 

 mits of the hills difiers too little from that of the valley, to afford much diffe- 

 rence in the nature of its vegetation. The plants of the genus Erica are rare 

 for apparently so favourable a situation. Bushes of the Spartium scoparium arc 

 to be met with above Little Malvern, and to the south of the hills. Specimens 

 of Genista Atiglica, Ononis arvensis^ Ulex europcens and nanus, are scattere<l about 

 the hills ; but excepting the Grasses, the Ferns are by far the most abumlant 

 plants filling the valleys, while the dwarf fern gives a green covering to the 



* According to these views, the formation south of London, more especially the chalk traced 

 by Mr Conybeare as far as Prussia, would still come under this clause, as in Great Britain they He 

 on their north-western boundary on granite ; and on their eaetem, their relatioo ii fioaUy erery 

 where the same. 



G S 



