Natural History. 41 



poured its waters into the Wash, a system, the only remains 

 of which are seen in the Lincoln Gap, through which the 

 Trent once flowed, and where the Witham still finds its way, 

 but time will not permit of it. 



I have drawn attention to the vast period of time that must 

 have been consumed during the events I have attempted to 

 describe; and this is a point that I cannot too strongly impress 

 on your memory. 



I have dwelt on the structure and configuration of the land, 

 as it appeared during the several ages my paper deals with ; 

 for this is the goal that all geological investigation should aim 

 at. The special study of strata, and their embedded relics, 

 valuable as it is, is nothing, if, out of it, we do not try to build 

 up the framework of the world, as it appeared at the time these 

 strata were deposited. I do not mean in any sense to under- 

 estimate the value of such special studies. Those who labour 

 at them are the patient seekers after fa&s, without whose 

 labours it would be impossible to read the story the rocks are 

 meant to teach. And here I must bring my paper to a close. 



Elevations and subsidences are still going on, though we 

 cannot see them. Attrition and denudation of the strata are 

 still proceeding, though, in our short existence, we cannot 

 trace them. Rains, frost, and rivers are still at work. The 

 " dragon land " is slowly altering year by year ; and the carving 

 and modelling of the surface will last, as long as raindrops fall, 

 and a vestige of land remains above the waves. 



LINCOLNSHIRE NATURALISTS AT 

 LOUTH. 



By R. W. GOULDING, 



Mercer Row, Louth. 



[Reprinted from the Louth Advertiser, 1894.] 



THE Louth Antiquarian and Naturalists' Society joined 

 the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union at their fifth 

 meeting on Monday last. Arrangements had been 

 made for a fungus foray in Muckton, Burwell, and Haugham 

 Woods, permission to visit which had been courteously 

 granted by Porter Wilson, Esq., and Wm. Hornsby, Esq., 

 notwithstanding the facl: that the day chosen for the excursion 

 was the ist of October, when pheasant shooting begins. 



