47 



be of considerable thickness.* No sections could be observed 

 below, the slopes of the hill passing down into the valley 

 being covered with grass. An extensive and picturesque 

 view was obtained towards Brailes and over the Cotswold 

 hills in the south-west towards the more distant Malverns 

 on the west and North Warwickshire. 



The Rev. P. B. Brodie gave a short sketch of the Geology 

 of the district, pointing out the large amount of denudation 

 which the Upper Lias and Marlstone have undergone; 

 showing that within sight of the spot on which they now 

 stood, they had an extensive Geological range in ascending 

 order, of fossiliferous deposits of various ages, from the old 

 lower Silurian Oleni shales of Malvern up to the Great 

 Oolite, including in this the Oolites generally on the east, 

 south and south-west, the Lias in the plain, New Red Sand- 

 stone still more to the north, Permian and Carboniferous of 

 the Warwickshire Coal-field. He observed that the view, 

 Geologically speaking, was very similiar to some which 

 might be seen at many places in the Cotswold area, and 

 from the Malvern hills. He also suggested the possibility 

 of a former extension of the straits of Malvern up the valley 

 in this direction. 



Owing to the lateness of the season the Botanists were 

 not very successful in their researches. On this occasion 

 there was no special Archaeological party, very few being 

 present. Several places in the vale wore pointed out as 

 noteworthy scenes of conflict at the battle of Edge Hill. 



* A much larger exposure of these sands is seen at Brailes hill, where they are 

 several feet thick, and yield plenty of fossils. In places in that neighbourhood the 

 Upper lias, much reduced in thickness when compared with the Gloucestershire 

 sections, occurs with its included 'flsh bed,' containing scales of Leptolepis and 

 Inoceramus. This ' flsh and insect bed ' with one or more thin bands of Limestone 

 in paper shales, has been traced by Mr. Judd at many places in Leicestershire, 

 Butland and Lincolnshire, and seems to be pretty constant in the lower division of 

 the Upper Lias throughout England, in its range from Somersetshire and through 

 Gloucestershire northwards. 



