1865.] GODWIN-AFSTEN POllLOCK FOKEST-BEDS. 3 



period — Sinemurien* (those to which the names Ehsetic and Penarth 

 have been given). 



The range which bounds the Porlock valley on the S.W. extends 

 from the Foreland, by Countesbury to Culbone and Oare, and is the 

 highest land of Somerset. The mineral character of this great mass 

 is very distinct from that of the grey slaty rocks, with calcareous 

 bands and an abundant though obscurely preserved marine fauna, 

 which extend from Linton southwards in ascending order. From 

 the valley of the East Lyn to that of Porlock the rocks consist of 

 hard sphntery sandstones, grits, and pebble-beds, with partings of 

 compact shales — the whole series being of various shades of red. It 

 is the only portion of the North Devon and Somerset Palaeozoic series 

 which bears any resemblance to the " Old Eed Sandstone" group 

 of Wales and Gloucestershire. In many respects these rocks recall 

 characters of parts of the Coal-measures, or of the Lower Wealden 

 beds. 



No animal remains have ever been met with from any part of the 

 beds of the Countesbury series ; plants have been found, and I have 

 seen specimens which, though insufficient for description, left no 

 doubt as to a terrestrial vegetation. 



It is difficult to fix the place of the Countesbury rocks in the great 

 Palaeozoic series. The thought that they might belong to the true- 

 " Old Eed Sandstone " age made me examine the sections along the 

 East Lyn valley ; but whereas the true " Old Eed " everywhere in 

 the West of England passes up into the Carboniferous group, this 

 older Eed, after one or two alternations, is surmounted by the ma- 

 rine Devonian series. 



The pebble-beds and coarse grits of the Countesbury rocks indi- 

 cate a shingly coast-line at no great distance. The absence of ani- 

 mal remains, and the presence of terrestrial plants, suggest that these 

 may have been the depositions of a lacustrine area, older than the 

 marine Devonian series of Southern Europe ; yet, for all that, they 

 need not be older than the lower " Old Eed " of Glamorgan, Mon- 

 mouth, and Hereford. 



The great mass of the Countesbury and Dunkerry range has been 

 produced by a great flexure, of which the steep slope is on the N.N.E. 

 with an angle of 28°. The nature of the beds, and their highly in- 

 chned positions, are alike favourable for their deep disintegration. 



§ 11. The Foeest-eeds. 



1. Introduction. — The whole of the coast-line of Britain is fringed 

 with submerged forest-ground. Large tracts of it occur in the west : 

 in Cardigan, St. Brides, and Swansea bays. On the south side of 

 the Bristol Channel are those of the great Bridgewater levels, which 

 extend seawards, well described by the late L. Horner, Dr. Buck- 

 land, and Mr. Conybeare ; subsequently by Sir Henry De la Beche 

 in his Eeport on Devon and West Somerset. 



It has been long known that there was " submerged forest " 



* Quart. Journ. Greol. Soc. vol. ii. p. 5. 



b2 



