G. H. Morton — The Bunter and Keuper near Liverpool. 501 



During the last three years, at the suggestion of Prof. Bonney, I 

 collected a large number of pebbles from the Lower Pebble-beds of 

 the Bunter and from the base of the Keuper Sandstone — selecting 

 the following localities as those where pebbles were most abundant, 

 viz. Eastham, Hilbre, Bedstones, Hilbre Point, Pool Hall Bocks, 

 Bainhill, Thatto Heath and Woolton in the Bunter; and Bidston 

 Hill, Flaybrick Hill, Oxton, Wallasey and West Kirby in the Keuper. 



The pebbles in the Lower Pebble-beds include many of white 

 vein quartz and a few of a red shade. The quartzite pebbles vary 

 considerably in colour and range from white to gi'ey and black, and 

 from white to pink, red, brown, and the well-known liver-coloured 

 quartzite, but the latter is not common. Some of them are coarse 

 and others fine-grained, and the latter usually fracture through the 

 grains embedded in the matrix. These are felspathic grits which 

 Prof. Bonney considers of the " Torridon Sandstone " type, and 

 others resembling the Millstone Grit. Halleflinta and black slaty 

 rock sometimes with white quartz veins are frequent. Quartz-felsites 

 occur, but generally in a decomposed condition. Sandstone like 

 that of the Upper Silurian is frequent. 1 A single specimen of 

 pink granite was found, and a pebble of white orthoclase with the 

 cleavage remarkably bright and fresh. 2 A pebble of black chert 

 and another of cherty mudstone resembling beds in the Cefn-y- 

 Fedw Sandstone were also found. The largest pebbles measured 

 six inches in length, and they were of both quartz and quartzite, 

 but it is seldom that they occur so large. Small bits, large rounded 

 lumps and thin partings of shale and marl are of frequent occurrence. 



The pebbles in the Keuper Sandstone occur almost entirely about 

 the base of the formation, but they are few in number compared 

 with those in the Bunter. There are pebbles of white vein quartz, 

 and a few have yellow and red stains. The quartzite pebbles are 

 mostly white, and possess a glistening external appearance in 

 consequence of the irregular fracture of the embedded grains, but 

 there are some of a pink and light red shade, and others of light 

 and dark grey. There are a few pebbles of halleflinta, one of 

 decomposed rhyolite, and another of quartz- felsite. A pebble of 

 white and several of pink orthoclase showing the cleavage planes. 

 Some indurated angular bits of red clay occur in the basement bed 

 at Flaybrick, but few grits or sandstones have been found. The 

 liver-coloured quartzite has not been seen in any of the localities 

 examined. The largest pebbles found were two inches in length, 

 and they are rare. Small bits and rounded lumps of red and grey 

 marl are very common about the base of the Keuper. 



It is remarkable that not a single pebble of the Carboniferous 

 Limestone has been found in either the Bunter or Keuper, from 

 which it may be inferred that the formation was not exposed at the 

 surface during Triassic times. There is evidence that the Cefn-y- 

 Fedw Sandstone, Millstone Grit and Coal-measures were exposed 



1 An Upper Silurian fossil, Platyschisma, was found at Eastham. 



2 A similar pebble in exactly the same condition was found in the Keuper at 

 "Wallasey.. 



