Reports and Proceedings. 331 



After leaving Shepton Mallet, on the rigM hand side of the Bath 

 road, an interesting section was seen, where on the upturned edges 

 of the Carboniferous Limestone are horizontally deposited beds of 

 Ehaetic and Liassic age. This succession is due to one or more faults 

 which have brought the Liassic beds on a level with the Carboni- 

 ferous limestone, against which the former rest at a slight angle. 

 These Liassic beds, which are unmistakeably the same in geological 

 age as the Weston beds near Bath, and contain, the usual Lower 

 Lias fossils, assume a precisely similar appearance to the " Sutton 

 stone" beds at Southern do wn,^ and both lithologically, and as 

 regards their fossil contents, at once presented to those members 

 who had joined the Southerndown excursion, a striking resemblance, 

 if not perfect identity, — the first few blows of the hammer revealed 

 the usual fossils, lAma gigantea, L. punctata, etc., of the Lower Lias, 

 and many specimens of Ostrea liassica. The same bed was traced 

 on rising ground the other side of the road. The chief peculiarity 

 noticeable in this, as compared with the " Sutton stone " series, was 

 the absence of corals, of which during this short visit no traces could 

 be found. Even the very flinty conglomerates, which form so con- 

 spicuous a featur-e in the beds at Southerndown, are traceable here. 

 The members then mounted the axis of the Mendips, and followed 

 the Eomano-British Eoad, called the " Eidgway," till they arrived 

 at the Beacon, one of the highest points. Whilst passing along the 

 Eidgway, several indications of Trap were noticed, especially one in 

 an adjoining field, where Mr. Moore pointed out this rock cropping 

 out in the form of a boss, thus giving evidence of a mighty volcanic 

 movement which took place at a remote period, the limestone, be- 

 fore horizontal, being then upheaved by this great protuding mass, 

 and thrown off on either side with considerable force ; the lava at 

 the same time bursting forth wherever a vent could be found. The 

 approximate time of this upheaval must have been after the depo- 

 sition of the Coal-measures. For in the Valley to the north, the older 

 rock overlies the more recent strata, and coal is worked beneath the 

 Carboniferous limestone, which Mr. Moore accounted for by the 

 great force of the upheaval doubling the strata thus back upon itself. 

 The recent discovery of the Trap rock in this neighbourhood adds 

 weight to the theory. H. H. W. 



co:RE,:E]si=on:srnDEJisrCE. 



PROF. J. BEETE JUKES' REPLY TO MR. G. POULETT SCROPE'S 



ARTICLE. 



To the Editor of the Geological Magazine. 



SiE, — 1 am unwilling to allow Mr. Poulett Scrope's article in your 

 last number to pass sub silentio, and therefore seize the first halt that 

 occurs to me, since receiving it, to pen a few words in reply to it. 



1 See paper by Mr. E. B. Tawney— Geol. Mag., January, 1866, p. 39. 



