273 



Froin the top of Symonds Tat the route lay over the ridge of 

 the hill to the Buckstone, which was the next point of interest 

 in the programme. 



The Buckstone is a large detached mass of Old Red Conglo- 

 merate, and one of several such masses which have from time 

 to time rolled down the slope of the hill towards the Wye 

 valley below. Its greatest length is about 19 feet, extreme 

 breadth 13, and circumference about 65. It is so nicely balanced 

 that a little force will make it vibrate ; and it is on that account 

 one of the most celebrated " rocking-stones" ia the kingdom. 

 The marls below the Conglomerate mass have been so washed 

 out and denuded away by atmospheric agencies that the stone 

 itself appears to stand almost on a single point, and it looks 

 as if it might easily topple over, and fall with a crash into the 

 valley belo w. On this occasion however the celebrated " Logan " 

 served a useful purpose, in affording a partial shelter to some 

 30 half-drowned Naturalists during one of the fiercest storms 

 known in the west of England for many years. 



Monmouth was next reached, and after an hour spent there, 

 the Club proceeded to Ross, and dined at the Royal Hotel, under 

 the Presidency of the Rev. C. J. Robinson, President of the 

 Woolhope Club. After dinner a very able paper was read on 

 the " Botany of the District," by Mr. H. Southall, which was 

 followed by an interesting discussion ; after which Dr. Wright, 

 in following up some observations of Dr. Paine's on Ophiolepis 

 Damesii, gave an eloquent and instructive address on the Rhoetic 

 area — the "bone-beds," and the conditions which must have 

 prevailed at the time of their deposition. 



The Meeting appears to have been one of profit and interest, 

 and to have been carried out with undaunted resolution in the 

 teeth of a furious gale of wind, and an unprecedented rainfall, 

 equal during the day to sixty tons of water per acre. 



The third Field Meeting of the Club was held by special invi- 

 tation from our old and valued colleague Rev. W. S. Symonds, at 



PENDOCK, 



on Tuesday, 20th July. 



About 24 members of the Club assembled on the day appointed 



