38 Rerieivs — W. A, E. Ussher — Coal S. of Mendips. 



Limestone of Russia, but microscopic sections of the two forms at 

 once show that the structure of this latter is that of a coral, 

 whilst the former is altogether distinct, and, as already mentioned, 

 resembles that of generally recognized Palaeozoic Polyzoa. 



Without reckoning Stenopnra with its three species, there are 

 only nine genera and seventeen species of corals known in the 

 Carboniferous rocks of New South Wales, a small number when 

 compared with those of the corresponding formations in Europe, or 

 with those of the Siluro-Devonian period of Australia. 



Mr. Etheridge's descriptions are amply illustrated in the eleven 

 plates accompanying this report, which at once sustains the reputa- 

 tion of the author, and bears witness to the enlightened encourage- 

 ment of palfEontological science by the Government of the Colony. 



in. — On the Probable Nature and Distribution of the Paleozoic 

 Strata beneath the Secondary, etc., Rocks of the Southern 

 Counties ; with Special Reference to the Prospect of 

 obtaining Coal by boring South of the Mendips. By W. A. 

 E. Ussher, F.G.S. [Proc. Somerset Arch, and Nat. Hist. Soc. 

 vol. xxxvi. 1891.] 



THE probable occurrence of productive Coal-measures on the 

 southern side of the Mendip Hills has been discussed since 

 1826, when Buckland and Conybeare first wrote on the geology of 

 that region (see Geol. Mag. 1871, p. 500) ; but no one at present 

 has put down any boring sufficiently deep to prove the nature of the 

 Palaeozoic floor over the area where these buried Coal-measures are 

 likely to occur. The subject is treated from a broad point of view 

 by Mr. Ussher in the paper under consideration. Referring to the 

 Culm-measures of Devonshire, he points out that there is no reason 

 to believe that the easterly development of this comparatively un- 

 productive series, would affect the question of true Coal-measures 

 being reached in the area south of the Mendips. The Culm-measures 

 include representatives of the Carboniferous Limestone, Millstone 

 Grit, and possibly [we would say probably] the lower part of the 

 Coal-measures ; but eastwards near Burlescombe and at Cannington 

 Park the Limestone becomes more prominently developed, and it 

 therefore is likely that further east and north-east the Carboniferous 

 beds generally would approximate more and more closely to the 

 characters they have in the Mendip area and in the Somersetshire 

 Coal-field. 



From a general consideration of all the facts, and especially with 

 reference to observed dislocations in the older rocks of West 

 Somerset, Mr. Ussher concludes that the most probable location 

 of an underground Coal-basin in the area south of the Mendips, 

 would be enclosed by an irregular line drawn from the coast near 

 Otterhampton, through Pawlet and Meare, to Polshara ; from 

 Polsham to Wedmore, and thence by Badgeworth and Lympsham 

 to the coast at Brean. Within this line the best sites for trial 

 borings would be in the vicinity of Highbridge, Burnham, and 

 Berrow ; at East or South Brent, Chapel Allerton, Wedmore, Meare, 



