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The Gravels of the Severn, Avon, and Evenlode, and their extension 

 over the Cotteswold Hills. By W. C. Ltjct, F.G.S., F.A.S.L. 

 Bead at Gloucester, April 7, 1869. 



The attention of Geologists has during the last few years been 

 much, directed to the study of the superficial gravel formations 

 and deposits of the Pliocene and Post Pliocene period. 



In Prance, the Valley of the Somme, in which so many flint 

 implements have been found, has been rendered classic by the 

 able writings of Mr. Pkestwich, Mr. John Evans, Sir C. 

 Lyell, M. Boucher de Perthes, Mr. Tylor, and others. 



The Thames Valley and the gravels in the neighbourhood of 

 Bedford, Salisbury, and particularly the East Coast, by S. V. 

 Wood, Junr., and the Eev. J. Eome, have been carefully described 

 and correlated. The first account that I have found on the 

 Severn and Avon gravel deposits was written by a member of 

 this Club, the late lamented Mr. H. E. Strickland, in 1834 ; 

 and subsequently papers have appeared in different pubKcations 

 by Sir Roderick Murchison, Professor Buckman, Mr. E. Hull, 

 and Mr. G. Maw. 



With the exception of two very good but incidental notices by 

 Messrs. Jones and Witchell, the only paper published by the 

 Club is that in 1861, by the Eev. W. S. Symonds, on the Drifts 

 of the Severn, Avon, Wye and Usk, and it was mainly in 

 consequence of the following remark of his that I was induced 

 to study the subject, — " We have much to investigate before we 

 can hope to obtain a clear insight into the history of the Drifts 

 of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire ; " and also of the appeal 

 made by our President in his address in 1863, and again in 

 1865, to the members of the Club to examine these Gravels. 

 G 



