84 



question arose from a paper lately published in the Quarterly 

 Journal of the Geological Society for May, 1866, by Mr. Tawnet, 

 of " The Siu'vey," who finds in these beds an extension into this 

 country of the Upper Ehsetic series of the Continent of Europe. 

 Mr. Moore, however, was of opinion that the beds in question 

 are an abnormal extension of the true Lima beds of the Lower 

 Lias, and contain Fossils identically the same. According to 

 Mr. MooEE, Lima subduplicata {Tawney) = Lima diiplicata, Ostrea 

 lcevis=0. liassica, and Pecten suttonensis, are found associated with 

 Lower Lias forms at Shepton MaJlett, Saltford, and elsewhere. 

 Mr. MooEE, in noticing the range of species, referred to the 

 finding of Ostrea intusstriata in Lias, near Bridgend, which 

 formed the subject of a correspondence with our colleague, Mr. 

 John Jones, three or four years ago. Mr. Mooke now further 

 stated that at Weston, near Bath, he had since found a specimen 

 of Ammonites angulatus, with not less than 100 examples of 

 0. intusstriata attached to it, shewing conclusively, if farther 

 proof were needed, that 0. intusstriata can no longer be deemed 

 rehable evidence of the presence of Rhsetic beds. Mr. Moore 

 exhibited an object of great interest and importance, in a block 

 of Ehsetic limestone, which had fallen on the line of railway near 

 Shepton Mallett, containing a metacarpal bone belonging either 

 to a Mammal or to a land reptile, j)robably the latter, but 

 if so, undoubtedly representing the most ancient in that class of 

 animal life yet discovered. 



It may not be out of place here to draw attention to a 

 paper in the Quarterly Jom-nal of the Geological Society for 

 February in the present year, by P. M. Dxtncan, M.B., on " The 

 Madreporaria of the Infra-Lias," having reference especially 

 to the intricate question of the age of the Sutton and 

 Southerndown beds. 



In this paper Mr. Dtjncan mentions, in terms of well-merited 

 eulogy, the assistance afforded him by Mr. Charles Moore in 

 his investigation of these beds, though he adds, "there is a 

 difference in our opinion about their Geological age." Mr. 

 Duncan's conclusions, drawn from an elaborate survey, and 

 comparison of a vast array of facts, may be summed up 

 as follows : — " The great biilk of the Brocastle, Sutton, and 



