TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 51 



The paper concludes by contoasting the fliut tools of Thetford with those found 

 in other parts of England, and comments upon their probable use and adaptation. 



On the Correlation of the Loiver Lias at Barroiv-onSoar, Leicestershire, tvith 

 ^e same Strata in Wanuiclc-, 'Worcester-, and Gloucester-shires, and on the 

 Occurrences of the Bemains of Insects at Barroiv. By the Eev. P. B. 

 Bkodie, M.A., F.G.S. 



The author fii-st described two sections of the '^ Insect and Saui'ian " beds at 

 Bairow-on-Soar, not previously noticed. These were compared with other ad- 

 jacent sections, and the variations in the strata duly noted. The Insect beds 

 were shown to occupy their normal position ; but the thickness of the latter 

 was not so gi-eat in Leicestershire as in Warwickshire. Hence a considerable 

 thinning out of the Lower Lias in this direction was inferred. The Insect-bed 

 were believed to extend into Nottinghamshire, and thej' have been also observed 

 near Cave in Yorkshire. It remains to be proved whether the " Rhfetic series " 

 is present beneath in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire as in Warwickshire. It 

 has been lately detected near Gainsborough, in Lincolnshire. A general compa- 

 rison was then given of the lower Lias in the county of Leicester with the same 

 series in Warwick, Worcester and Gloster. The insect limestones were shown to 

 be of much economical value in making hydraulic lime and for other pui-^Doses. 

 Several faults on a small scale were noticed both at Barrow and at Wilmcote, in 

 WarAA-icksbire, in this zone. The characteristic fossils were pointed out ; and it 

 appeared that sauriaus and fish were abimdant, more so at Barrow than Wilmcote; 

 and the remains of insects were now for the first time indicated there, though they 

 had been long since discovered in the same division in Yorkshii-e. It was argued 

 in conclusion, that these lower Liassic limestones have a very extensive horizontal 

 range, and are characterized by the remains of insects throughout, which really 

 distinguish them far better than the Sam-ians, which have a much wider vertical 



On the Drift Deposit on the Weaver Eilh. By E. Beowit. 



On the Occurrence of the Bhcetic Beds, near Gainsborough and the surroundinrj 



Strata. By F. M. Burton. 



Gainsborough is situate at the foot of a moderately steep escarpment of the 

 Keuper or uppermost division of the Triassic system. 



This escarpment consists of the usual beds of the series, yellow and blue marls 

 alternating with brown and gi'ey sandstones and beds of gypsum ; the latter pre- 

 senting both the granidar and fibrous ^-arieties. Owing to the operations of the 

 Great Northern Railway Company, who are lowering the gradients of their line to 

 Lincoln, a fine section of Rhaetic "beds has been exposed at Lea, about two miles 

 from Gainsborough, where the lowest bed of the series, containing Avicida contorta, 

 bones, and coprolites, is seen resting unconformably, thougli with parallel stratifi- 

 cation, on the blue marls of the Keuper. This is followed by a band of black shale 

 nearly unfossiliferous, above which comes the bone-bed, a narrow band full of 

 worn bones, teeth, scales, and coprolites, imbedded in a cement of pyrites. This 

 is followed again by a number of other beds of shale, sand, and limestone, of vari- 

 able thickness and degi'ees of hardness, the highest at present exposed, a band of 

 black shale about two feet thick, containing large Septarian nodules. 



The whole series is highly pyritous, and contains Avicida contorta, Pidlastra 

 arenicola, with teeth of Hyhodits, Acrodus, Sargodon, Tennatosaiints, and other 

 Rhretic fossils in abundance. 



Tlie lihcetic beds are capped by a stratum of drift which covers the surrounding 

 country, and through whicb the cutting passes to Marton Station, about three miles 

 from Lea, where a fine and very fossiliferous section of lower lias is laid bare. 



Amongst the specimens found there are Scjitasfriva Fromciitcli, Montlivaltia Hameii, 

 Pleurotonua-ia Anylica, Turbo eleyans, Lima Ilettangiensis, several species of Am- 

 monites, and others. 



4* 



