342 Mr. Finch's Account of a Pseudo-Volcano, [May, 



Bartramia arcuata. On Alpine Moors, and in the recesses of 



the Cumberland mountains, where it bears fruit. 

 Daltonia splachnoides. On trees in subalpine woods. 

 Orthotrichum pulchellum.* On trees in Cawsey Wood, Durham. 



Should you think these remarks worthy a place in the Annals 

 of Philosophy, an account of the heights at which the different 

 kinds of grain come to maturity, and under what local circum- 

 stances various sorts of fruit will ripen, and exotic plants flowerj 

 together with some observations on the mean temperature of the 

 air and springs of water, shall be transmitted by, 

 Gentlemen, your obedient servant, 



N. J. Winch, 



Article IV. 



An Account of a Pseudo-Volcano in the Neighbourhood of 

 Bra dely Iron-works, Staffordshire, and of some Mineral Sub- 

 stances found there. By John Finch, Esq. 



(To the Editors.) 



GENTLEMEN, Birmingham, Jan. 24, 1818. 



Should you think the following article worthy of a place in 

 your Annals of Philosophy, I shall feel obliged by your insertion 

 of it. The above-mentioned tract of ground is situated by the 

 road-side from Birmingham to Wolverhampton, about half way 

 between Wednesbury and Bilston, and close to Bradely lower 

 furnace. It is mentioned by Plott, in his Natural History of 

 Staffordshire, as being on fire in the year 1686, when he wrote. 

 He says, it is not known how long it had been on fire before that 

 time. It then occupied a space of eleven acres ; but its ravages 

 have since extended about one mile and a half in extreme length, 

 and one mile in breadth. Whether the fire originated in acci- 

 dent, or from the sulphur contained in the coal and pyrites, 

 cannot at this distance of time be ascertained ; but it probably 

 arose from the latter cause, as at other pits the small coal has 

 taken fire on being exposed to the action of the atmosphere ; and 

 formerly the accumulation must have been very considerable, as 

 the small coal was not then consumed in the works connected 

 with the smelting of iron. 



As the combustible matter is exhausted, the hand of cultiva- 

 tion requires its labour ; and, even in parts where the fire is still 

 in activity, by carefully stopping the fissures, and preventing the 



* I doubt whether the late Mr. W. Brunton ever found this irioss in the north 

 of England, as mentioned at p. 75 of Hooker and Taylor's Muscologia. I sent it 

 to him from this locality in 1805. 



