177 
And now I come to the Free Ammonia and Nitric Acid present: 
in these waters. Looking at the analysis of the King’s Bath, 
mere traces of Nitric Acid were found and no Ammonia. Now 
here in the Batheaston water is a small but noticeable amount of 
the former and a remarkably large amount of the latter. I don’t 
give much heed to the nitrates but the quantity of Ammonia is a 
matter for consideration. Is it a bond fide portion of the mineral 
constituents of the water, or is it due to sewage or decomposed 
animal refuse filtered through the earth ? 
Should it be due to the former, it is I say a notable feature in 
the Batheaston Spring, for few mineral waters are thus favoured. 
Studies and Problems for Somersetshire Geologists. 
(Communicated by H. B. Woopwarp, F.G.S., Feb. 17th, 1875. ) 
Notwithstanding the advantages which Somersetshire possesses 
over other counties of England in the interest attaching to its 
Geology (so many different formations being represented), there 
are yet comparatively few residents in the county who have devoted 
themselves to the task of unravelling the geological history of their 
immediate neighbourhood. 
It might be imagined that the labours of Buckland and Cony- 
beare, of De la Beche, Lonsdale, Sanders and Moore, had left very 
little for others to do ; and when it is known that upwards of five 
hundred books and papers, referring in some way or other to the 
Geology of Somersetshire have been published, one might feel a 
certain amount of reticence in adding to the literature of topics 
that would seem to have been pretty well exhausted. 
Having endeavoured during the past few years to glean from the 
numerous published works to which I have been able to gain access, 
the facts in Somersetshire Geology ; and having thereby, as in all 
other studies, in a certain sense increased my ignorance by finding 
