78 RAMBLING THOUGHTS IN A HANLEY MARL PIT. 



the other hand we know that the strata or beds of rock, 

 including coal, are often found at a much greater angle, 

 that is to say, more highly inclined, or steep, quite incon- 

 sistent with the notion of their having been so deposited. 

 In those cases, beyond a doubt, some great disturbance 

 has taken place since the rocks formed at the bed of the 

 sea. There have been sudden upheavals by earthquakes, 

 or volcanic action at some period or another, throwing the 

 rocks out of their original level or nearly level line. 



In the case before us, however, and if we had no other 

 means of forming an opinion but by an examination of 

 this pit, is there anything to tell us whether that line of 

 stratification is the original line of the mud, bounding the 

 lake in which it was formed, or whether it has been tilted 

 since ? What does this calamite stem tell us ? You see 

 it leans. It has not been disturbed by the workmen, we 

 may be sure. It would have tumbled to pieces if it had, 

 and you may examine the base and satisfy yourself on 

 that point. How does it lean ? It leans with the dip 

 of the bed, and at a corresponding angle. Now you 

 know that all trees, but especially fast-growing trees 

 larch, for example shoot up straight, and that it makes 

 no difference, in this respect, whether they grow on a bank 

 or on a flat field. Therefore, if this calamite had grown on a 

 slope, it would still have shot upwards in a line perpendicular 

 to the horizon. As we see it, it is not perpendicular to 

 the horizon, but it is perpendicular to or at right angles 

 with the dip. That is just the position we should find 

 it in if the bed had been originally horizontal, and had 

 been tilted since the tree grew and the land had accumu- 

 lated round it. 



If we had only this one specimen as a guide it would 



