98 



water deposit), has its peculiar fauna. The passage in this 

 typical section of one bed into another was particularly well 

 marked. After pleasantly discoursing upon his various 

 discoveries in the Rhoetic beds, where traces of the first 

 quadruped and the oldest land reptile have rewarded his 

 research, Mr. Moore conducted the Members into the quarries 

 on right and left of the Hue, and pointed out the succession 

 of the beds, from the " sun bed" up through the insect and 

 crustacean beds, to the " hat and cap," and other beds of the 

 lower lias. A few fish scales and a tooth or two alone revealed 

 themselves to the various hammers that were at work. The 

 usual fossils were apparently but thinly scattered in these 

 beds. Passing along the ridge to Camel Hill, the strike of 

 the Rhoetic and lower lias was followed east and west, and a 

 halt called on the hill to admire the fine view from the 

 Mendips on the north to the Quantocks on the west and 

 south. Here Mr, Moore again explained the geological 

 features of the country, spread out like a map at his feet. 

 From the disturbances of the strata, and their sharp dip in 

 opposite directions to the north and south, it was suggested 

 that the intervening trough would be the place where the 

 landed proprietors in the neighbourhood might try for coal 

 with a possibility of success. Mr. Scarth also here pointed 

 out the line of the Roman road, from the Port ad Axium 

 over the ridge of the Mendips to Old Sarum, passing along 

 the line of the mining country. After a hurried but in- 

 effectual search after crabs and lobsters in the crustacean beds 

 in the quarry beneath, the Members passed on to West Camel 

 Church, and were well rewarded for their hot walk, the well- 

 restored little church containing many details of great 

 architectural value. In the churchyard, raised on a temporary 

 pedestal, stands a portion of a very ancient cross, one of its 

 sides covered with the usual interlacing work of the period ; 

 two serpents forming an oval space, with their heads approach- 



