27 



where a house has been newly-erected, a well-sinking has revealed 

 the fact that the freestones on the one side of the line of fault have 

 been thrown down to a level with the Lias Sands on the other side, 

 shewing a down- throw of about 90 feet. This is still more strikingly 

 displayed on the adjoining Heartly Hill, where the FuUer's Earth 

 and Stonesfield Slate may be seen on a level with the middle beds of 

 the Inferior Oolite. 



Standing on the point of Shurdington Hill, Mr. Norwood described the 

 relations of the beds to one another, and pointed out the physical 

 peculiarities of the region, especially with regard to the numerous lines of 

 fault which, having a direction east and west, traverse this district at short 

 intervals, and have doubtless exercised an important influence in the 

 excavation of those profound lateral and transverse valleys, which have- 

 for the most part been sapped along these ancient lines of fissure. 



From Shurdington the party returned to Cheltenham, where about 

 twenty-two sat down to dinner, after which, a discussion arose respecting 

 the much-canvassed theory of the transmutation of species through 

 the agency of Natural Selection and " the struggle for existence," as 

 propounded by Daewik. In which discussion Dr. "Weight, the 

 Eev. T. W. NoEWOOD, Eev. W. S. Stmonds, Mr. Nash, Dr. Bibd, and 

 others took part. It would be out of place here to enter at length 

 upon an examination of the subject thus brought under discussion, which 

 is in its nature too important, and in its relations, both physical and 

 metaphysical, too intricate and manifold to be dismissed in a few words. 



The opinions elicited, though diverse,^ had certain points of agreement, 

 which may be briefly stated as follows. 



1. That although Naturalists may be unable accurately to define 

 the limits between species and varieties ; yet that species have an absolute 

 existence in nature. 



2. That the law of variation on the theory of descent through 

 modification is not borne out by experiment, but rather the reverse ; the 

 tendency to return to certain original types being constantly manifested. 



3. That the admitted pliability of certain races under the hand of man, 

 however extraordinary, is no proof of a similar plasticity in nature : 

 certain races, as dogs, appearing to be eminently liable to variation ; while 

 others, as cats, though exposed to similar inflaences for an equal length of 

 time, remain unchanged. 



4. That though the "imperfection of the geological record" be admitted ; 

 and every allowance made for the "poorness of our palceontological 

 collections ;" and for the limited portion of the globe which has hitherto 

 been carefully explored ; enough still is ascertained to shew an utter 

 absence of those transitional and connecting links, which according to the 



