When, some years ago, I first turned my attention to the study of Geology, 

 I viewed, with no small regret, my location upon the Old Ked Sandstone of 

 Herefordshire ; for although by the laborious researches of eminent geologists in 

 the same system in Scotland and elsewhere, the strata had yielded objects of the 

 greatest pateontological interest, still that of Herefordshire enjoyed the reputa- 

 tion of being peculiarly destitute of organic remains. 



The Silurian rocks, however, teeming as they do with the relics of the 

 inhabitants of the early seas, seemed to offer a rich field for exploration, and I 

 accordingly directed my attention to those formations as exhibited in the very 

 attractive spot from which our Club derives its name, and which has to-day 

 witnessed the practical commencement of its labours — I mean the Woolhope valley 

 of elevation. But, finding the distance from Hereford too great for an ordinary 

 walk, which only my leisure could afford me, I determined, notwithstanding 

 their doubtful character, to form an acquaintance witli the rocks in my more 

 immediate neighbourhood. Acting upon this determination, I lost no opportunity 

 of making my observations, and it was with no small satisfaction I at length 

 discovered a remarkable protrusion of Downton Sandstones and Upper Ludlow 

 Shale, at a spot where I little expected to meet with any member of the Silurian 

 system. I allude to the elevated dome of Hagley Park, with its carbonaceous 

 strata and fish bed, lately visited by Mr. H. E. Strickland, F.G.S., whose 

 description of it will shortly appear in the Journal of the Geologiciil Society of 

 London. Continuing my investigations, other objects of local interest constantly 

 forced themselves upon my attention ; which, however, it is not my intention to 

 particularize on the present occasion. The object I have in view on this, the first 

 field meeting of the "Woolhope Club," is merely to give a short and general 

 sketch of the phenomena around us, and to point out a few of the more striking 

 objects within the range of our geological enquries. When Sir Roderick 

 Murchison commenced his explorations of this region about 21 years ago, great 

 obscurity rested upon the ancient rocks previously termed "Grauwacke." The 

 importance of fossils as a key to the identification of strata— however different in 

 lithic structure— had for some time previously been fully recognized by geologists 

 in every part of the world ; and great progress had consequently been made in the 

 chronological classification of the various formations, from the Tertiary down to 

 the Old Red Sandstone epoch. In order to take a comprehensive view of the 

 subject, it will be necessary todirectattention to portions of the adjacent counties. 

 Sir Roderick Murchison's eminent researches in '' Siluria," and those of Professor 

 Sedg^vick in North Wales, were the means of connecting by a series of links, so to 

 speak, the oldest sedimentary rocks— or the " transition " of Werner— with the 

 newer, and already ascertained deposits. The terms "Transition" and 

 " Grauwacke," I should observe, have by universal consent, fallen into disusage, 

 and geologists now recognise them as forming one great system to which the term 

 Silurian has been applied. 



In no p irt of Great Britian is the geological sequence of the ancient fossili- 

 ferous rocks interpolating between the Old Red Sandstone and the Cambrian 

 schists so complete as in the district now under review. They constitute the 



