160 



tilt; lower strata ure tlirowii into bold muuiilainous lormatious, whilyt 

 the upper beds are stretched hundreds of feet below them. 



The field under observation would show considerable disturbance if 

 viewed apart from the rocks with which it is surrounded, but when con- 

 trasted with them it is comparativelj^ even. 



This miniature type, if carefully surveyed, fixes on the mind a correct 

 idea of its mode of formation, materials, and general outline. The 

 entire series is comparatively barren in fossil remains, and this may be 

 accounted for by three causes ; one, that the previous disturbances of 

 the earth had been greatly destructive to life ; another, the want of 

 calcareous matter as a preserving medium ; and also the large amount of 

 oxide of iron which we find pervade most of its formations. In those for- 

 mations, where there is an absence of the latter and presence of calcareous 

 matter, as in the muschelcalk of Germany, we find fossils abundant and 

 beautifully preserved. We must be careful, however, not to place 

 too much reliance on the negative evidence on which its barren 

 character rests. In the old red we have an instance of the danger of 

 such evidence, and, in the pursuit of tins science, instances are too 

 frequent to warn us against allowng this, at best but a feeble element, 

 to guide our conclusions. 



I have attempted to sketch a geological picture rather tlian a geologi- 

 cal outUne of the new red formation. I have adopted this coiu'se 

 because you have had, during the present session, the details of the for- 

 mation of the new red of Cheshire and Lancashire, identical in theif 

 character with the present, most ably and elaborately dealt with by our 

 esteemed member Mr. Morton ; and I cannot help remaiidng that the 

 details of geology are of ao peculiar a character, often so local and apart 

 from general observation, as rather to render them interesting to the 

 student than a general audience ; and I think great praise is due to that 

 gentleman for rendering a jiaper, so peculiarly confined to the difficult 

 details 1 have named, so singularly pleasing. 



Turning from this panoramic view, permit mo, before concluding, to 

 call your attention to a feature of geological study often overlooked, 

 much undervalued, I mean the physiognomy of geology. In a previous 

 part of this paper I referred to the featui'es,'pcculiar formations, display, 

 and also to the obvii>us assistance some professions may derive from 

 their study. It may not perhaps have occurred to many (although 

 remarked by writers), how intimately the character of the inhabitants oi' 

 a countrj' or locality wotild appear to be associated with the peculiarities 

 of geological structure. A closer inquiry, however, reveals to us that 

 temperament, social habits, literature, and religion of a people, are 



