REVIEWS GEOLOGY OF THE FENLAND, ETC. 305 



Oxer the botilder clay we get true Fen deposits, first beds 

 of gravel, and then layers of peat and silt. The two latter 

 deposits inosculate, and there are at least three distin,ct beds of 

 peat, which is largely composed of moss (Hijpnum JJuitans.) Biu-ied 

 forests are found on five hoiizons, and the manner in which the newer 

 trees are found seated upon the broken stumps, or astride the prostrate 

 trunks of the older ones, is extremely curious. The trunks of the 

 buried trees almost invariably he pointing to the north-east, and this is 

 also the direction in which those now growing incline, except quite 

 close to the sea coast, where the sea breezes assert their influence, 

 and the trees all bend away from the water, as may be seen to perfection 

 at Hunstanton. The silt is shown to be a marine deposit. 



A great amount of information is given in the appendix, including 211 

 measurements of sections, andUsts of inundations, rainfall, andlocaJ terms ; 

 also 120 titles of papers wiitten on the district. Mr. Skertchley has done 

 the main work, and in fii'st-rate style, but he writes : — -" I do not consider 

 the Geology of the Fens to be by any means exhausted. Indeed, no one 

 can be more sensible of the numerous points of interest barely hinted at 

 or unnoticed ; but an area of 1,.300 square miles involves the work of a 

 lifetime, instead of the four pleasant years I spent in the Fenland. 

 The local pecuharities must be worked out independently by local 

 Geologists, who will I trust find in this volume a conscientious and 

 trustworthy guide." W. J. H. 



Report of the Burt on-upon-T rent Natural Histonj and Archa-ological 



Society for 1877-8. Burton-upon-Trent : J. C. Perfect, 1878. 

 This Keport bears the date 1878-9 on its cover, and also contains an 

 abstract of an address dehvered to the Society on " Nov. 27th, 1878," 

 (p. 73,) from which it would appear that oui- Burton friends are " ahead 

 of the times." At all events, there can be no doubt but that they are 

 thoroughly well up with them, for the Report evinces a vigour and 

 thoroughness which show that this young and active Society is doing 

 good work in its district. In the account of the eight whole day excur- 

 sions undei-taken during the past year we note some interesting remarks 

 on the grand oaks in Bagot's Park, Needwood Forest. That on Swilcar 

 Lawn is 65ft. in height, and gii-ths 26ft. at 4ft. above the surface of the 

 ground. The branches of the "Beggar's Oak" stretch out for 108ft. 

 from north to south, and 95ft. from east to west. 



This Report contains also two excellent papers — one by the Eev. C. 

 F. Thomewill, on " The History of Burton Abbey from its foundation 

 (A.D. 1002) to the end of the Twelfth Century ;" and another by Mi-. J. 

 T. Harris, on the " Economy and Natural History of Beetles, as 

 Affecting our Grain and Vegetable Productions." A very valuable feature 

 of the Society is the "Junior Section," composed of young students of 

 Natui-al History, for whose encouragement prizes are annually offered 

 for the best local collections of plants, shells, rocks, A'c. We also note 

 a Meteorological Table, showing the principal elements of the weather 

 of 1877 in a concise form, prepared by the energetic Secretary, Mr. C. 

 U. Tripp. 



o o 



