302 REPORT— 1840. 
appearance of the trap in the gorges, shows that after its consolidation, 
the whole plateau has been broken up by a second uplift from below. 
In conclusion, the author adverted to the difficulties that attend the 
investigation of the older stratified rocks, which are, ist, the convulsions 
which have broken up the beds; 2nd, the great uniformity of the beds 
through vast thicknesses; 3rd, changes from igneous action; 4th, the 
extent to which the bedding has been obliterated by the cleavage planes ; 
5th, the general absence of organic remains; and, lastly, the all but uni- 
versal covering of diluvium that has filled up the fissures of dislocation. 
Mr. Bowman also visited the Bala lime quarries, and collected largely 
of their fossils, which, with one exception, as far as they have been yet 
examined, are similar to those in the Lower Silurian rocks. If, there- 
fore, there be any boundary between the Upper Cambrian and Lower 
Silurian systems, it must be defined by other evidence than that of 
fossils. In addition to the absence of the dividing limestones of the 
Upper Silurian rocks, some peculiarities were pointed out in other 
parts of the large section exhibited, viz. the old red sandstone is en- 
tirely wanting in Montgomeryshire and Denbighshire, the carboniferous 
limestone resting upon the Upper and sometimes on the Lower Silurian ; 
while to the north of Cyrn y Brain, the limestone itself is deficient, and 
the millstone grit reposes upon the fossiliferous Lower Silurian. 
Account of a Raised Sea-beach at Woodspring-hill, near Bristol. 
By Wittiam Sanpers, F.G.S. 
Woodspring-hill forms a part of the coast of the Bristol Channel, 
about eighteen miles W.S.W. of Bristol, and two miles to the north of 
Weston-super-mare. The name which it bears on the parish map is 
derived from an ancient tower and other buildings, the remains of Wood- 
spring priory. On the Ordnance map it is named Middle Hope. The 
hill is about two miles in length from east to west, with a breadth of 
about half a mile, decreasing to a point at the western end which is 
called Swallow-cliff. The author then describes the geographical rela- 
tions of this detached hill of mountain limestone, to the carboniferous 
district included between the Mendip Hills and Tortworth. Within 
this space he describes the principal lines of displacement of the rocks, 
and from the evidence which he has collected concludes that, throughout 
this district the evidence abounds of elevatory movements during the 
formation of the magnesian conglomerate, and before the deposition of 
the new red sandstone strata, as well as of elevations that affect both 
the new red marls and the superincumbent lias. Besides these there 
have been disturbances on a much smaller scale and to a more limited 
extent, but leaving no other trace of the time of disturbance. 
The author then describes the phenomena observed in this hill, 
which mark the existence of an ancient sea-beach there. These may 
be classed under the following heads. 
1. Blocks of several feet in diameter, composed of pieces of limestone, 
large and small, with rolled pebbles, cemented together by broken 
