96 Mr. Horner on the Brine Springs at Droitwich. 



throughout the whole of that extent, and even for some miles to the 

 south of the spot I have just named. 



Mr. Aikin observes that the red sandstone of Shropshu'e does not 

 effervesce with acids : in this respect, therefore, it differs from that 

 of Droitwich, for both varieties of the sandstone effervesce pretty 

 briskly for a short time, but that which is of a grey colour appears to 

 contain the greatest proportion of calcareous matter. 



The extensive beds of rock-salt, and the brine-springs of Cheshire, 

 according to Dr. Holland,* are situated in strata of a similar nature. 



§ 4. The surface soil which covers the red sandstone, contains 

 large pebbles, generally about the size and shape of a goose's egg, but 

 often larger. Those which I examined consisted of compact bluish- 

 grey quartz, very much resembling some varieties of fiint and cal- 

 cedony, and different varieties of coarse and fine-grained quartzose 

 sandstones. These pebbles are not found in great quantity, for, as 

 I was informed by a labourer, they are picked off the surface of the 

 fields for the purpose of mending the roads, no spot having been 

 found in the neighbourhood, where they are sufficiently abundant 

 to pay the expence of digging for them. 



§ 5. With regard to the nature of the rocks through which the 

 brine-pits were sunk, I have not been able to obtain any very distinct 

 information, as no new pit has been made for the last thirty years. 

 All that I have in my power to lay before the Society on this subject, 

 is the account contained in Nash's Histoiy of Worcestershire, to- 

 gether with some details I received from an inhabitant of Droitwich, 

 who was on the spot at the time the last pit was dug. The follow- 

 ing is the information given by Dr. Nash. 



* Trans, of tho Geol. Sjciefy, vol. 1, p. 3S— Sec also his Agricultural Survey of 

 Cheshire, 



