probably a tboHsand years old, and as the Club sheltered behind them from a 

 drifting rain-storm, considerably heavier than a Scotch mist, it was impossible 

 to escape the thought that in their day the noble encampment on the Hereford- 

 shire Beacon above them may have been a scene of life and action. When they 

 were saplings, the Saxons had not yet overrun the country. And ... if the 

 rain had not happily ceased, there is no saying the length to which such old 

 historical associations might have been carried. Happily the sky brightened, 

 and under the guidance of Dr. Holl, the Club proceeded at once to the Barton 

 Court quarry. Here there exists what geologists term "a fault" in the rocks, 

 of a very interesting character. In a line running obliquely close by the quarry 

 the rocks have been broken through, the lower rocks (across which the railway 

 was made) were raised, and thus the Lower Red Marl strata at the quarry are in 

 immediate conjunction with the Upper Ludlow rock by the railway ; and the 

 yellow beds of Downton Sandstone and the Fishbone beds of Ludlow have been 

 cut out. The clay slate stone of the quarry is very rich in organic remains, and 

 some time was spent in the search for them. Many characteristic fossils were 

 found, and, as each member brought up his discoveries to be named, the scene 

 was quite animated ; now it was a Bhynchonella nucula — now a Peroncea 

 retroftexa — one rejoiced in the possession of an Orthonota aniygdalena, and 

 another was hapjiy in the discovery of Serpuliies longissimas, besides which, 

 portions of Orthoceratitcs — the Conytes lata, and several other interesting fossils 

 were also found. The route was then taken for Chance's Pitch, the geologists 

 speculating meanwhile as to the depth beneath their feet of the Downton 

 Sandstone. This rock does not show at this portion of the hills, but there was 

 no doubt. Dr. Holl stated, that it occupied its place on the slope of the hill. 

 Above Chance's Pitch, on the turnpike-road, the lowest portion of the Upper 

 Ludlow rock crops up, and a good specimen of Rhynchondla Wilsoni was soon 

 obtained, with many other shells. Higher up the hill the Aymcstrey Limestone 

 appears, and here fragments of the Pentamerus Knightii were found with the 

 Ortlioceras ibex and many other shells. 



The most interesting of the wild flowers observed were the Potentilla 

 verna, the Cistus Heliantheinum (yellow rock rose), the Geranium lucidum, 

 Ervum, tetraspcrmum, Linaria cymbalaria, Myosoiis versicolor, M. collina, 

 Galium saxatile, Veronica montana, Lysimachia nemorum, and Aira prcecox. 

 But in good sooth the vegetation was everywhere too wet to be very closely 

 investigated. 



The question (if there was any) of attacking the encampment was settled 

 partly by seeing that the hostile clouds had entirely disappeared from it, and 

 partly by seeing, with the unnecessary aid of a very excellent binocular pro- 

 duced expressly for the occasion, (that is of exhibiting itself) that some of the 

 party had already climbed the hill. 



The wind was found to be rather boisterous on the top, but all were 

 were speedily gathered around the President on the leeward side of the 

 Pr;«toriura, or central enclosure, of the ancient camp. 



