376 Reports and Proceedings. 



with these remains appeared to be identical with living species. 

 Accounts of various sections in the neighbourhood were then given in 

 detail, e.g., Pinch's Well, Batheaston Shaft, well at the New Hotel, 

 and the excavation in Pulteney Eoad, in both of which latter 

 sections the Mammalian gravel occurred — in the former. 4ft. ; in the 

 latter, 12ft. thick ; and the Larkhall and Freshford gravel-pits, with 

 their intervening bands of fresh-water clays. 



As regards the physical condition of the Bath basin antecedent to 

 the Eoman period, some 14 feet beneath the foundations of the 

 Eoman city, a stratified deposit of freshwater alluvium containing 

 innumerable land and freshwater shells and plants, occurred. Their 

 fine laminse, and the perfect state of the shells, etc., bespoke a 

 lengthened and quiescent period of accumulation. The species both 

 of the seeds and shells, being similar to those existing at present, 

 indicated a similar temperature. These beds Mr. Moore considered 

 contemporaneous with the Swiss-lake-dwellings, of the stone or 

 bronze age. In confirmation of this view the presence of the Bos 

 primigenius and Bos longifrons in both these deposits was adduced. 

 A list of the shells, seeds, and bones found in the Pre-historic allu- 

 vium was given. The bones were similar to the others, with the 

 addition of those of the Bos antiquus. The presence of hazel-nuts, 

 seeds, fossils, and fragments of coal found in the deposit from the 

 Bath water was accounted for by the water, as it welled to the 

 surface, coming in contact with the drift which contains these things. 

 The extent of these drifts, their source and material, were next de- 

 scribed. Though the mollusca were so abundant in the marls im- 

 mediately above, yet few were found in the gravel itself, and the 

 Mammalia must have been washed or have rolled down during inun- 

 dations. In the Larkhall gravel-pits, a thick bed of laminated marl 

 divides the beds ; this showed a period of repose ; its contents con- 

 sisted chiefly of remains from the Fullers' -earth, and likewise 

 enormous quantities of land-shells (Pupa marginata). which were 

 probably brought down with the marls from the adjacent hills. The 

 Mammalian bones occurred near the base of the lower bed, and were 

 Elephas primigeniuSjE. antiquus,Bhinoceros tichorJiinus, Ovihos moscJiatus, 

 Sus scrofa ferox, Equus caballus, Bos primigenius, and Beindeer. 

 During the time of the deposit of 60 feet only of these clays and 

 gravels in the old river courses, the presence of these bones indicated 

 that the Mammalia, which are now extinct or have migrated to other 

 latitudes, and with which man was without much doubt con- 

 temporaneous, both lived and died. Immediately preceding the 

 deposit of these gravels the Glacial epoch was drawing to its 

 close, and great climatal changes took place. The evidence 

 of a Glacial period, though not preserved on the soft rocks of 

 the neighbourhood, might, Mr. Moore thought, be traced in the 

 stiff Liassic clays on which the gravel now reposes, for wherever 

 these clays are exposed, deep and long continued furrows are visible, 

 now filled up with the traU or drift, marking the spot where 

 icebergs had stranded. In conclusion, Mr. Moore thought man's 

 advent must be put back to a greatly extended period, and, according 



