249 



either abstain from making such appointments or, that having 

 sanctioned them, they should make some sacrifice of time and 

 convenience to reach them. 



On Wednesday, 5th Octoher, the Club met for an excursion 

 extending over two days to the 



COAST SECTIONS AT WATCHET 



in North Somerset. To those who have enjoyed the privilege of 

 a ramble along that beautiful coast which extends from Watchet 

 by Minehead and Porlock to Lynmouth, thence over the so- 

 called " Devonians " to Ilfracombe and Morthoe, and over 

 Woolacombe Sands to Croyde Bay and Baggy Point — to such as 

 these the enjoyment of the scenery is enhanced tenfold by the 

 interest of the geological problems which lie yet unsolved along 

 that stretch of country. At Watchet, from " St. Audries Head" 

 to " Blue Anchor " extends one of the finest and most instructive 

 sections to be met with anywhere of the beds from the " Keuper" 

 to the "Bucklandi" beds of the "Lower Lias." At Dunster. 

 and Minehead set in the red rocks of the " Devonian " series, 

 which at Lynmouth change their characters, and alternating 

 with inter-bedded limestones at Combe Martin, pass at Morte 

 Point into slates, which are seen at Croyde Bay to occupy a 

 vertical position on the shore. These beds have long been a 

 crux to the geologist, and it becomes not one who is a mere 

 amateur to offer a decision upon points respecting which there 

 is still a large divergence of opinion amongst the most competent 

 observers. The eminent authority of Sir Roderick Mtjkchison 

 supported by that of Mr. Etheridge, the accomplished 

 palaeontologist of "the Survey" regards these beds as a 

 condition of the " Old Red " of Herefordshire and Scotland ; 

 while Professor Jukes, the late head of the B-ish Survey, 

 believed that he had found in these slates the representative of 

 similar beds in Ireland, which belong unquestionably to the 

 Carboniferous series. 



The key to the mystery lies in the position to be accorded to 

 the red beds at Dunster, Minehead, &c., which underlie the 



