Part of Gloucestershire and Somersetshire. 331 



from that of Horsley. But on the eastern side^ the strata are disposed, for a 

 short space near the great quarry, in such a manner as may have led to the 

 opinion, that the trap of this vicinity forms dykes intersecting the other rocks. 

 At the spot here referred to, the trap and stratified beds are seen in close con- 

 tact, and, at the point of junction, in a nearly vertical position ; but in reced- 

 ing from the trap the strata become inflected in the form of inverted arches, 

 dipping near the trap toward the east, and on the opposite side of the curve 

 toward the west, at first at high angles, but at length the low westerly dip 

 becomes general. The breadth of the inflection does not exceed five or six 

 feet, and appears to be so superficial, that little doubt can remain that the 

 eastern body of strata underlie both the inflection and the trap itself. An 

 observation to be made hereafter will tend to confirm this view of the subject. 

 The Horsley trap has been stated to contain organic remains, first noticed, I 

 believe, by Mr. Shrapnell junr. of Buteley. The Rev. Dr. Cooke informs 

 me, that on opening the upper part of the quarry, adjacent to the sandstone 

 strata, a bed about ten inches thick, containing corallites, was met with, situ- 

 ated close to the extreme side of the trap. The bed, therefore, seems to 

 have been incumbent upon, rather than included in, the trap. 



On the other side of the Avon, to the west of Middle Mill, trap also appears, 

 and may be traced for about one hundred yards ; and beyond it on the west 

 the stratified beds occur ; but the depth of soil opposes further research. 



§ 12. The transition beds, which flank the Woodford trap on the east, may 

 be traced from the Gloucester road along the base of the Keeper's ridge to 

 Micklewood Chase. The surface of the Chase appears as a table-land, inclined 

 3° toward the east, being occupied in that direction by deep diluvial clay ; 

 but toward the west and north the rocks are more lightly covered. Along 

 the northern brow of the Chase, a fence is drawn to the west, in constructing 

 which the surface of the rocks has been cut into. Measuring along this line, 

 and the quarries contiguous to it, from east to west we find, (see the Map,) 



1. Trap . 70 fath. wide. Quarried 90 fathoms in a north and south 



direction. 



1. Stratified beds 75 . . Also partly disclosed by a small trench. 



2. Trap . . . 60 , . Quarried also in part toward the south-east, 



while a second quarry appears in that direction, 

 which is opened 90 fathoms toward the north- 

 east and south-west. 



2. Stratified beds 60. 



