86 THE OLD RED AND CARBONIFEROUS PERIOD. CHAP. 



and these represent the lower part of the richer coal-field of the 

 Severn. 



Or do they appear now nearly as they were deposited, under 

 conditions unfavourable to the full development of the coal strata, 

 either because of the situation being uncongenial to the growth 

 or unsuited to the conservation of the plants which compose the 

 basis of carbonaceous deposits ? 



Diagram XXII. I. Annularia brevifolia. Brong. Forest of Dean. 2. Spheno- 

 phyllum Schlotheimii. Brong. Forest of Dean. 3. Sphenophyllum ovale, natural 



size. Phill. Forest of Dean. 4. Hippurites longifolius. Lind. Forest of Dean. 



5. Asterophyllites (Annularia) equisetiform is. Brong. Forest of Dean. 



To whichever of these views he may be inclined, the geologist, 

 standing on the line of the hills anywhere between Abberley and 

 Newent, and looking eastward over the broad areas of later strati- 

 fications, must feel strongly moved to consider the theoretical 

 question of the possible or probable extension of rich coal deposits 

 on the eastern side of the Malvern and Abberley Hills; he must 

 be forced to consider the practical question of what may be the 

 depth to be reached by shaft or pit on reasonable computation, 

 before that coal can be attained; and it may be that before this 

 century be ended some such trial must be made. Before adopting 

 any decided opinion on either of the questions, we must examine 

 into the history of the strata which lie on the eastern side of the 

 Malvern Hills, between them and Oxford. 



The organic remains of the coal districts of Abberley, Newent, 



