Essay on Geology. 91 



known picturesque beauty, than by its geological variety and importance. 

 With reference to the topics of information always presenting themselves 

 to an intelligent mind in the course of such walks, we remember in our 

 youth to have read a very excellent story of Miss Aikin's, entitled, " Eyes 

 and no Eyes." Now eyes are especially requisite in geological investiga- 

 tion ; and it will be our aim to furnish our friends with geological spectacles 

 to assist their vision. 



For a general view of our district, we will first volunteer our services as 

 guides, to attend the reader in his walks to the summit of our own Dundry 

 Hill, and point out to him the geological features he will thence survey. 

 We may boldly say, that there is no other station in Europe, not excepting 

 even Saussure's Buet, which brings into view so rich a variety of forma- 

 tions, including so nearly the whole series of rocks, from the oldest transi- 

 tion to tlie newest secondary — from grauwacke slate to chalk. A single 

 glance at this view will at once convince the observer of the great advan- 

 tages which Bristol offers as a central spot, for the residence of a geological 

 enquirer j and if a geologist siiould imitate the example of one of our most 

 active and intelligent professors, Buckland, and give his class an occasional 

 field lecture, (the very best of lectures,) he could not possibly desire a 

 better station than is thus presented within three short miles of our city. 



If from the summit of tliis hill, the observer looks to the south-west, he 

 will see the transition line of the Quantoc hills, skirting the horizon, be- 

 hind the Mendips, and appearing through the openings of the nearer chain; 

 and beyond the western extremity of the Mendips, he may observe the 

 prolongations of the transition ranges of Exmoor forest, lining the Channel 

 on the south, and swelling into hills which may almost claim the dignity of 

 being called mountains. 



The Quantoc hills, which are within twenty-five miles of Dundry, con- 

 sist of transition slate and transition limestone, at Nether Stowey, which 

 will afford our friends, if they are inclined to extend their excursion, a rich 

 harvest of characteristic specimens of all the organic remains of that 

 formation ; the veins of copper ore traversing the limestone, will also 

 supply very beautiful malachites. As these hills also, at Hestercorabe, 

 exhibit a small protruding mass of granite, we have an example of this 

 very important rock also within thirty miles. 



Calling our eyes back nearer home, the long line of the Mendips stretch 

 before us, on the other side of an intermediate valley of about seven miles; 

 the highest points of this chain consist of arched strata of old red sand- 

 stone,* which have been, by some mighty elevating power, forced through 

 the investing mantle of carboniferous limestone, forming the flanks and 

 lower portions of this range of hills. The strata of this latter rock arc 



• The formation of old red sandstone may be well studied on the left bank of the 

 Avon, opposite Cook's Folly, where it emerges from beneath the limestone. 



