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‘geological aspect of this, the first excursion for the season. Maes- 
bury Castle, Gurney Slade Dyke, and Emberrow Lake was the 
programme, with Mr. McMurtrie for geological instructor, during 
the expedition. The day promised well at starting, and though 
there were certain indications that the snowstorms of the previous 
day might be repeated. yet the sun shone out during the journey 
up; and when ihe party commenced their day’s work in the 
railway cutting, a cold wind, with bright sky, foretold a bracing 
ramble. The first point in the day’s work was to examine the 
Lower Limestone Shales, and, if possible, find their point of 
junction with the Old Red Sandstone below. The Shales, as is 
always the case, were found to be full of organisms, and once 
must have teemed with life. Brachiopods and Crinoidal remains 
abounded, and the surface of one large slab was seen to be 
covered with those branching impressions in relief which are now 
causing a brisk passage of arms between certain geologists as to 
their nature—whether they are to be attributed to the animal or 
vegetable kingdom, /.c., whether they are the markings left by 
worms on the ancient mud flats of the period, or are the impres- 
sions of seaweeds which once flourished in those times. Mr. 
McMurtrie having described the section and brought the party to 
the top of the watershed towards the junction of the Shales with 
the more solid beds of Carboniferous Limestone (which junction, 
however cannot be actually seen here), returned towards the 
station, sought in vain for any trace of the Old Red Sandstone 
in situ, and then struck the road on the south of the camp. A 
scramble over a stone wall and a stiff ascent landed the party at 
the south-west corner of the fortification. Traversing the 
vallum a halt was called at south-east end, near the pole 
placed by the Ordnance Survey, and whilst the members 
enjoyed the fine and extensive view the Secretary briefly 
recorded what was known of the camp. Expressing a regret 
that Mr. Scarth was unable to be present, he stated that 
it was of oval form, and one of those pre-Roman camps which 
