THE 



aEOLOGICAL MAGA.ZINE, 



NEW SERIES. DECADE II. VOL. I. 



No. XI.— NOVEMBER, 1874. 



OK.IC3-I3^JV.Xj J^E-TIOXjES. 



POPULAR PAPEES ON GEOLOGY.— No. 1. 



I. — A Eamble ackoss the Mendip Hills. 



By Horace B. Woodward, F.G.S. 



"]l /TANY of those interested in geology are by time generally for- 

 IV I bidden, and perba^js by inclination equally restricted from tbe 

 investigation of details on a holiday trip. Nor need this be regretted, 

 for the greatest pleasure in science is not always to be gained by the 

 examination of details, but rather in the contemplation of results 

 derived from such an examination. 



Actuated vrith this idea, I propose taking my readers on a trip 

 across the Mendip Hills, and to point out some of the many scenes 

 of geological interest and also of beauty to be met with on the way. 

 Somersetshire abounds with beautiful scenery, and is noted as much 

 for its great variety in this respect, as for the number of geological 

 formations represented in it ; and which combine to form its cliffs 

 and ravines, its escarpments, table-lands and broad fertile vales. To 

 those who are satisfied with the moderate elevation of a thousand or 

 fifteen hundred feet, a few weeks in the "pleasant country" of 

 Somerset will furnish many a delightful ramble. 



We shall make our first journey to Bath, which by a fast train 

 from London is reached in about three hours. It is a town well cal- 

 culated to charm, from its beautiful situation and well-built stone 

 houses, while its fine old Abbey Church furnishes a grand example 

 of the Perpendicular style of architecture. The mineral waters of 

 course are the principal attraction — to them Bath owes its origin. 

 When the Romans first came to the spot, as Sir Charles Lyell tells 

 us, it was lonely and desert, there was no doubt a large morass from 

 which clouds of white vapour arose ; but the invaders soon found 

 out the sanitary properties of the water, and built their spacious 

 bath-room in a highly ornamental style of architecture, decorated 

 with columns, pilasters, and tessellated pavements, remains of which 

 have been discovered during modern excavations. One thing that 

 will strike you is. Whence come these waters ? They are the hottest 

 in England, their average temperature being about 120° Fahr., and 

 they contain several salts, such as lime, soda, and magnesia. No 

 doubt they rise from a great depth, and Sir Charles Lyell is of 

 opinion that they mark the site of some great convulsion and 



DECADE II. — YOL. I. — NO. XI. 31 



