215 



pink and grey. They are largely quarried near Rugby, where they contain a 

 great abundance of iron, and present a singular eroded and uneven suiface. I 

 Lave never seen iiuy tiue white Lias in Gloucestei shire, though I am inclined 

 to agree with those geologists who consider that the landscajie stone or 

 Cothani msrhle is its equiviileut ; but I do not agree with Mr. Etheiidge in 

 believing the insect bed with avicula decussata at Westbury, to be the repre- 

 sentative in paW, of the white Lias. As yet, no Sauiians or ammonites are 

 known in it, and the shells which are exclusively marine are not numerous. 

 There are a considerable number of small corals, amongst which a species of 

 monllivaltia is common both in Warwick and Somerset, Uutil quite lately 

 the Lias terminated with the Red Marls, but now all the strata iutervening 

 between the white Lias and the latter will come within the Rbajtic series of 

 the Tiias. They will not therefore come within the province of this paper, 

 but I may just add that in the "landscape stone," or estheiia bed at Aust 

 Cliff, in Gloucestershire, some unusually well preseived remains of insects 

 have been discovered, but they seem to be local, for I never heard of their 

 occurrence in the same position elsewhere. Enough has, I trust, been said to 

 show the impoitance and interest which attaches to this great and extensiv* 

 formation, and if it contains less striking evidence of a terrestial fauna and 

 flora than the Stonesfield's Slate, the Wealden, the Purbecks, or still later 

 Tertiary deposits, it affords us a varied and remarkable history of the 

 inhabitants of the sea during a most extensive epoch of the ancient workU 

 The singular flying reptile, the ptcrodactyle, now appeared for the first time, 

 and the great Enaliosaurians were among the most formidable and preda- 

 cious monsters of the deep. Associated with them, in seas of varying depth, 

 were gigantic -cephalopods and graceful pentacrinites and numerous tribes of 

 fish. Wherever the land was we know it was not untenanted, and though we 

 only have altogether, perhaps, a partial record of the past, it must ever, be 

 full of interest and instruction to the scientific inquirer. 



The President then gave the thanks of the Club to Mr. Brodie for his 

 kindness in coming to give them the benefit of his researches — for the 

 interesting lecture on Coal he had given them in the field, and for the 

 learned paper he had just read to them. The Club were much indebted to 

 him, and hoped it was not the last time thoy should welcome his presence 

 amongst them (applause). 



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