316 ME. HERBEET BOLTON ON [Aug. I9II, 



12. Faunae Horizons in the Bristol Coalfield. By Herbert 

 Bolton, F.B.S.E., F.G.S., Curator of the Bristol Natural 

 History Museum. (Bead March 22nd, 1911.) 



[Plate XXVII— Fossils.] 



The Bristol Coalfield differs from the Midland and more northerly 

 fields in the paucity of animal remains which have been discovered 

 therein. Whereas the last-mentioned coalfields are capable of 

 division by their faunas alone, the Bristol Coalfield, and the South 

 Wales Coalfield, can hardly be so treated ; and, for the same 

 reason, no close correlation with the Midland and Northern Coal- 

 fields can be established, except by means of fossil plants and the 

 general lithological agreement. 



The Bristol Coalfield is largely covered by later rocks, surface- 

 sections being rare. The search for evidences of a fauna has 

 therefore to be carried on chiefly under ground, and among 

 material brought to the surface in the course of mining operations. 



By an examination of a measured section at the junction of the 

 Millstone Grit and Lower Coal-Measures in the South Liberty 

 Colliery at Bristol, I was able to demonstrate the existence of a 

 marine fauna in these measures. 1 The same method has since been 

 applied to the measures underlying the Bedminster Great Vein, and 

 with successful results. It was shown in my former paper (op. cit. 

 p. 448) that the Bedminster Great Yein was correlated by Handel 

 Cossham with the Kingswood Great Yein, so that the measures 

 examined have a development along the whole of the south-western 

 side of the Bristol area. 



With the guidance of the information obtained from the Ashton 

 and Bedminster Series, and with the aid of a grant of £20 from 

 the Royal Society, search has been prosecuted at as many collieries 

 as possible throughout the Coalfield, and fair results have been 

 accomplished. Evidence has been obtained of the existence of 

 fossiliferous horizons at the following collieries : — 



South Liberty, ^ 



Easton, 



Hanham, )■ in Gloucestershire, aud near or in Bristol. 



Speedwell Deep, j 



Coalpit Heath, J 



Ludlows, "] ^ 



Eadstock, 



Middle Pit, 



Tyning, 



Wells Way, _ 



Writhlington, )■ in Somerset. 



Foxcote, 



Dunkerton 



Newbury, 



Mackintosh, 



1 Q. J. G. S. vol. lxiii (1907) pp. 445-69 & pi. xxx. 



