450 P"ROF. E. J. GlEWOOD OX THE LOWER CARBOXIEEROUS [DeC. I9I2, 



(4) The possibility of applying the zonal succession determined for this area 



to the beds of corresponding age in Northumberland and Yorkshire, and 

 of correlating this succession Tvitli that now established iu the South- 

 western Province and elsewhere. 



(5) The description of new or little-known fossil forms which have been met 



with during the examination of the area. 



The investigation of the Lower Carboniferous rocks described 

 in the following pages was begun as long ago as the year 1SS8, 

 at the suggestion of Dr. J. E. Marr and the late Prof. Alleyne 

 Mcholson. Throughout this investigation, and especially during the 

 early stages of the work, I have received the greatest assistance 

 from my frieud and former teacher at Cambridge, Dr. Marr, and 

 I am glad of this opportunity to acknowledge how much I owe 

 to his help and encouragement. 



By the year 1895, however, it was realized that the work of 

 investigating the Carboniferous limestones of England in detail 

 was too great a task for any one man, and a joint note was contri- 

 buted to the British Association fleeting at Ipswich iu 1S95 ^ and 

 subsequently to the ' Geological Magazine,' calling attention to the 

 necessity of a detailed palseoutological investigation of the Lower 

 Carboniferous rocks. To further this object, a committee of the 

 British Association was appointed in 1895. 



Eor some years after this my attention was called to other 

 matters, and my spare time was chiefly spent abroad. 



In 1905 Dr. Vaughan read his now classical paper before this 

 Society, and for the first time placed the zonal sequence of the 

 Lower Carboniferous rocks of the Bristol District on a firm founda- 

 tion. By his enthusiasm, eloquence, and the ungrudging way in 

 which he has devoted his small amount of leisure to those who have 

 sought his assistance, he has earned the gratitude of all who have 

 the interests of Britisli Stratigraphy at heart. 



Dr. Yaughan's paper had the immediate eftect of rekindling my 

 interest in these rocks, and stimulated me to return once more to 

 the scenes of my earlier work. 



A preliminary account of the palaeontological succession in 

 "SVestmorlaud was given at the York Meeting of the British 

 Association in 1906, and subsequently in the 'Geological Magazine.'" 

 Since then further work has only served to confirm the general 

 conclusions there stated. 



As a result of these investigations, it has been fouud possible 

 to divide the Lower Carboniferous rocks of the Xorth-AVestern 

 Province into a series of zones, sub-zones, and bands, each of which 

 is characterized, either by one species which is not found outside 

 that particular subdivision, or by a collection of forms which do 

 not occur in association at other horizons. 



For convenience of description, the area dealt with is divided 

 into the following districts : — 



Rep. Brit. Assoc. 1895, p. 696. 



Geol. Mag. dec. 5, vol. iv (1907) pp. 70-71. 



