132 EEPORTS OF MEETINGS. 



Amnionitc-zones and fossil groups, the lecturer proceeded to 

 demonstrate the different beds into which the hill is divided. 

 At the base of the quarry now hidden from view are the " Upper 

 Lias Sands," about two feet thick; this horizon is distinguished 

 by a special set of Ammonites. Above this we have the *'Pea- 

 grit," a remarkable bed, about forty feet thick. The company 

 now began to follow their guide's steps, who by taking them 

 around and over the hill led them past the different strata in 

 succession. Dr. "Wright related how when he had brought M. 

 Triger, a French geologist, to this spot, and showed him the Pea- 

 grit, the latter went into raptures, and kneeling down worked 

 away till he had obtained several blocks, which are now carefully 

 deposited in the Museum at Metz. It is certainly no easy task 

 to realize how these curious round concretions were formed, for 

 most beautiful and delicate fossil Polyzoa were found growing 

 on them uninjured, though so frail. The next object of interest 

 was the bed of the Tcrehratula simplex. This shell is seen in 

 ^itu at the base of the freestone beds. As they passed under the 

 detached, turrettcd rock known as the *' Devil's Chimney," it 

 was explained that the fine thick beds of which it was composed, 

 belonged to the freestone group, — a set of beds which furnishes 

 the building stone of the district. It was a lovely afternoon, 

 and the Avalk round the hill was most charming, the freshness of 

 the air and the brightness of the sun-lit landscape being very 

 exhilarating. Having gradually mounted, the party now had 

 under their feet the bed of " Oolite marl," a bed of clay or 

 rubble, characterized by abundance of Terebratula fimbria^ and 

 numerous other fossils. This bed has yielded Corals; indeed, 

 the material of the Oolitic hills suggests that these deposits have 

 been formed from the waste of some such reefs as are now to be 

 seen round Australia. If this be so, it forms a proof ^^r se of the 

 enormous lapse of time in geology. Above this come the bastard 

 freestones and ragstones which are not good enough for building 

 purposes : they are also unfossiliferous. Doubling back over the 

 top of the hill, the Eoman camp was next passed, and what was 



