118 



"when the subsidence of the land took place and tidal action 

 was a work in our valleys, at the period of the low level or 

 terrace gravels. 



The Svhmerged Forest Beds. These beds, which are met with 

 in the estuaries of most of our rivers that empty themselves 

 into the sea, occur in the Bristol Channel, and have been well 

 described by Mr. Godwin Austin in the Quarterly Journal of 

 the Geological Society of London, for November, 1865, on the 

 *' Submerged Forest Beds of Porlock Bay," and I have ascer- 

 tained they extend from below the entrance of the Gloucester 

 and Berkeley Canal at SharjDuess, up to Gloucester. 



On either side of the Royal Drough, at a depth of about 16 

 feet, is a bed of Peat 6 feet thick, containing Oak, Hazle, Beech, 

 Waterflags, and some large trunks of trees ; and my friend 

 Mr. Clegeam informs me that a large piece of Oak was taken 

 out, having on its surface evident marks of fire. 



I have now in my possession part of the skull of a Bos 

 primigenius, with very fine horns attached, which was dragged 

 out of the peat-bed between the Royal Drough and Purton, 

 some years ago. After heavy tides in this part of the river, 

 trees often come to the surface, and Mr. Clegeam, in making 

 recent borings for the contemplated new entrance of the canal 

 at Holy Hazle PiU, found peat and trees some distance from 

 the shore. 



A few miles higher up the Severn at Epney and Pramilode, 

 not far from the river bank, the following is a general section, 

 in descending order : — 9 feet of Alluvium, 3 feet of Clay, 12 feet 

 of Peat, 3 feet of strong Blue Clay, and 3 feet of N.D. Gravel 

 and Sand, resting on Lower Lias. 



In the meadows at a distance of half-a-mile from the river 

 where draining has been done, Mr. Hawkins who resides in 

 the neighbourhood, and is a very close and accurate observer, 

 informed me that there is, first : 1 foot of Vegetable Mould, then 

 2 feet of Clay and 10 feet of Peat reposing on Lower Lias. The 

 Peat occurs at Whitminster, and also at Hardwicke, gradually 

 becoming less as we approach Gloucester. 



The Rev. P. B. Beodie has given in the first vol. of the 



