96 



the life varied according as the conditions suited. For that reason they found 



Limestones of different structure and quality, which, of course, was regulated by 



the Organisms whose remains contributed to their formation. The Limestone 



forming process was at times stayed, during which intervals Clays and Shales 



were deposited. After a thickness of about 130 feet, they came to a different 



series of Limestone beds, and the Shales were absent : this was the Carboniferous 



Limestone proper, and was about 360 feet thick. The Organisms which contributed 



to its formation were not easily made out, as the rock had undergone chemical 



change since it was first deposited, and, generally .'ipeaking, only the outlines of the 



Organisms could be seen. On the top of that 360 feet of rock they came to another 



series of Limestones, and an examination of them showed that they contained 



Organisms of the same nature as those to which he had referred in the Lower 



Limestones. The Limestone deposits to which he had referred consisted then of 



three divisions, thus : — 



Approximate 

 thickness. 



Lower Limestone Shales 130 feet 



Carboniferous Limestone Proper 360 , , 



Upper Limestones 116 ,, 



At the time of the deposition of the Upper Limestones, the sea floor was probably 



rising, for they found the Limestone replaced by a Sandstone known as the 



Millstone Grit. This rock was the base of the Coal Measures. Apparently the 



sea floor continued to rise until conditions existed which allowed of that vegetation 



to grow which formed our Carboniferous Coal. 



Upon the conclusion of Mr. Wethered's address, the party proceeded 

 towards " The Deep Cutting," a cutting in the road from Ross to Drybrook. On 

 their way a halt was made at some rough broken ground — termed the " Delve." 

 This spot in the Forest exhibits the vestiges of labour of man many centuries ago. 

 In some places rugged masses of rocks project, at other places yawning chasms 

 present themselves around the unwary traveller, and prompt him to keep his eyes 

 open lest he fall into pitfalls, the remains of ancient disused workings in jiursuing 

 the course of the vein of iron ore. There should be no reason to doubt that 

 these are justly called "Roman Workings, " when we consider the proximity of 

 the town which the Romans called " Ariconium," mentioned in the thirteenth 

 Iter of Antoninus, which occupied the site of Bury Hill, near Eollitree, Weston, 

 three miles from Ross — over which neighbouring area British and Roman coins 

 have been found, dating from Claudius to Magnentius, i.e., from A.D. 41 to A.D. 

 353, and also large masses of iron scoriae, evidence of smelting furnaces having 

 been employed. It has been said that the floors of some of the forges have been 

 discovered. 



Still proceeding onwards, upon arrival at "The Deep Cutting," the Lower 

 Limestone Shales were examined, and some good fossils obtained. The Transition 

 beds were then seen, and further details as to their structure and origin were 

 given. The party passed over the Carboniferous Limestone, which, however, was 



