OF THE FRENCH GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 417 
exposed surface of the bed, but always in the same position as they 
had lived and died, and presenting only either the lower or the im- 
pression of the upper portion to observation. In no instance, out of 
very many that I saw, was any portion of the convex part of the 
shell visible. It is clear to the most superficial observer that the 
bed has been formed gradually round the shell, while the latter was 
resting quietly at the bottom of the ocean. When we had passed 
this spot, a turn of the road presented a most interesting prospect. 
Just before us, looking N.E. a conical hill rose finely and boldly 
from a quantity of other hills, which formed round it a most beauti- 
ful amphitheatre ; and while all parts of this amphitheatre were 
richly wooded with forest trees there was seen, in contrast to them, 
a perpendicular escarpment caused by some disturbance, and expos- 
ing a synclinal axis in the conical hill, leaving bare a succession of 
terraces of coralline and Portland oolite, which met at an obtuse 
angle in the natural section of the beds. 
Between this point and the town of Délémont the road is pretty, 
but not remarkable ; but beyond that town we went for a short dis- 
tance down the valley of the Byrse, which all who have travelled 
between Berne and Bale must remember as amongst the most beau- 
tiful of all the Swiss valleys. The river, indeed, passes through 
deep cuts in the mountains, which border it, not only beyond Délé- 
mont, but also more to the south, between Montier and Courrendlin. 
Of this part I shall have to speak more presently ; but, after passing 
the latter town, it crosses a wide tertiary valley for some miles to 
Délémont, and then almost immediately becomes shut in, and ro- 
mantic rocks rise suddenly on each side to a considerable height, 
On these stood formerly strong castles ; that on the west built by the 
Romans to overawe another on the east, which the early inhabi- 
tants of the country had erected for their defence, but of which all 
traces are now lost. One tower of the Roman work still remains, 
and a chapel stands before it, also extremely ancient, and perched 
on the very pinnacle of the rock; so that, when seen from below, one 
can hardly fancy that there is sufficient room even for the founda- 
tions of the building. This chapel, so romantically placed, is as cu- 
rious for its interior as for its situation and appearance. There are 
in it two or three extremely ancient paintings, in a style resembling 
that of the early Flemish school ; and one of these is said to be as much 
as eight centuries old. These are in the chancel, and the other walls 
of the church are all but covered with more than a hundred of the 
most extraordinary and even ludicrous pictures, left there “‘ ex voto” 
—that is, in consequence of yows made by sick people, and for friends 
VOL, IX., NO, XXVII. 53 
