LOW FURNESS, LANCASHIRE. 431 



and occurring in thin ribbon bands, parted by 

 red marls, and quite unfit for building purposes ; 

 the latter was one of the best building stones in 

 the kingdom, and as such has been selected for 

 building the new houses of Parliament. The 

 former also, although called magnesian, contains 

 little, if any, of that earth in its composition. 



Mr. Watson, Chemist, of Bolton, found in a spe- 

 cimen of the limestone from Bedford, as follows : 



"Carbonate of Lime 56.5 



Aluminous and Silicious Earths 38.5 



Oxides of Iron and Manganese 2.5 



Water 2.5 



100.0"* 



The identity of the strata was alone first proved 

 by the organic remains. In this instance the 

 value of the discovery of the late Dr. Smith, 

 justly termed the father of English Geology, in 

 reading the age of strata by their fossil organic 

 remains, was most thoroughly proved. Probably 

 there has not been any greater example of its 

 correctness and utility. 



* No. 5, page 23 of the Quarterly Journal of Geology. 



