358 



from the coutents he had found, Mr. Scarth explained the form of 

 the barrow, and conducted the party round it, pointing out where 

 the walling, wherever it had fallen, had been carefully replaced, and 

 upright stones marked the extent of the repairs. Originally the 

 whole had been covered with soil ; it was only in recent times that 

 the dry walling, which now formed the boundary of the tumulus, 

 had been uncovered. It was much to be regretted that when the 

 entrance to this tumulus was fii'st discovered, the contents were 

 found to have been disturbed and the chambers rifled, and nothing 

 that could accurately fix the date had been found, but the internal 

 constiiiction appeai-ed to show that no iron tool had been used in 

 its formation ; it was constructed of flat slabs of the stone that 

 abounded in the neighbourhood, apd small fragments collected from 

 the surface of the ground filled up the interstices of the chambers, 

 and composed the dry walling around. The party went back to the 

 vicarage where they pai'took of tea, and afterwards returned to 

 Bath. They were accompanied on the excursion by Mr. and Mrs. 

 Buxton Whalley, besides having the advantage of the presence of 

 Mr. Vaux, lately over the department of medals and coins in the 

 British Museum, and several other visitors. 



The distance of Wellow from Bath is about five miles, and Stoney 

 Littleton a little more than a mile beyond Wellow. 



Excursion to Frocester Hill and Nympsjield Tumulus. Jtme &th, 

 1871. — The very unseasonable weather, more characteristic of 

 March than June, was probably the cause of so small a muster 

 at the Midland Station, nine members only of the Club 

 answering the tempting invitation for a day on the breezy Cottes- 

 wolds — classic ground for both geologists and archaeologists. The 

 excursion this time was arranged especially with a view to geology, 

 but as there are, alas, so few who care to soil their aristocratic 

 fingers with the workman's hammer, it was found necessary to add 

 to the day's programme a visit to the chambered tumulus of 

 Nympsfield. Arriving at the Frocester station at 10 a.m., the 

 members at once proceeded to ascend the hill ; on their way crossing 

 in succession over the Lower Lias of the valley, the various beds of 

 Marlstone and Upper Lias, and finally ascending the steep and 

 wooded slopes of the Oolitic or Liassic sands, reached the top of the 



