96 PAPERS, ETC. 
into a group of ten divisions, the Quantocks belonging to 
the lowest five of the series, and the Cannington limestone 
being placed the very lowest in the scale. It is now, how- 
ever, ascertained, that, as regards Cannington, Mr. Wil- 
liams was in error; and without attempting at present to 
unriddle the “puzzle” as my late friend Mr. Baker called 
it, yet the discovery of shells in this limestone is suflicient 
to upset previous theories as far as l am acquainted with 
them, and to leave a fair field of geological research still 
open there to the physical geologist. Neither, indeed, 
would I pin my faith to much of Mr. Williams’s general- 
izations. Murchison, De la Beche, Phillips, and not for- 
getting Professor Sedgwick, have combined to topple down 
his “ synopsistic” column, and at present, I think, we must 
throw his groupings aside altogether. A very prominent 
feature as are the Quantock Hills in our county, the stran- 
ger on a nearer acquaintance will not be disappointed, for 
few distriets offer greater attractions to the lovers of 
nature, whether as regards varied scenery, or the magnifi- 
cent prospects from their summits. Seen from a distance, 
they present, with the exceptions of the heights I have 
mentioned, a gently undulating outline, and from the south- 
eastern extremity are divided into distant ridges, spread 
out in the form of a fan, having one extremity at North 
Petherton, and the other at West Monkton, with a 
gradual slope to the alluvial lands below. On the eastern 
side, lateral branches spread out from the main range, thus 
forming the beautiful valleys called Coombes : on the 
western side the descent is much more rapid. Of them- 
selves, from the general cultivation, few opportunities are 
offered for satisfactory sections, but we may compare the 
quarry sections with those presented by the cliffs on the 
shore of the sister distriet, and by these means arrive at 
