82 



important in an economical point of view, as bearing upon the 

 practicable working of many of our beds of coal and iron. It 

 were long to follow all the speaker's points as his eye glanced 

 from the Oolitic escarpment of the Cotteswolds over the broad 

 vales of Worcester and Gloucester. He described the action of 

 ice and water, which, in the course of ilKmitable ages, have 

 ground down and worn away superincumbent strata, leaving only 

 a gravel-bed here and there to tell of what once has been : and 

 he woiuid up by an eloquent description of the appearance of 

 Man upon the scene, in company with Mammals of huge growth 

 — the Mammoth and Hairy Rhinoceros — now no longer living on 

 the face of the earth, but whose bones, entombed with the works 

 and remains of man, have of late years been found associated 

 under circumstances which render their contemporaneity no 

 longer doubtful. 



Scarcely was the address concluded before rain began to fall, 

 which caused a speedy retreat in the direction of Dursley Cross, 

 where the carriages were in waiting, which conveyed the party 

 back to Gloucester. 



Dinner was served at the Bell Hotel. 



After dinner Dr. Weight gave a lucid and instructive account 

 of the Coral beds of the Oolites, shewing in what respect they 

 differ from those of our present oceans and seas ; pointing out the 

 remarkable fact that, except as dwarfed and isolated individuals, 

 these Polyps appears to have been absent from the close of the 

 Oolitic period until, in the seas of the present epoch, they have 

 reached their cUmax of greatest development. 



On Wednesday, 18th July, the Club was summoned to meet 

 at Bath. This was the occasion already referred to, which has 

 rendered necessary the remarks in the opening portion of this 

 address, on the very indifferent response made by the Club to 

 that summons — not more than six or seven members appearing 

 at the place of rendezvous to represent thefr associates and 

 support the President. They were, however, joined by several 

 members of the Bath Field Club, and under the guidance of 

 Mr. Charles Mooee, the party proceeded by train to Freshford, 

 to examine the drifts and beds of the Avon valley, returning to 

 Bath by way of Hampton Down. 



