the Drifts of the Severn, Avon, Wye, and Usk. 285 
beds that the explorer finds such numerous relics of the extinct 
mammalia. It is in these beds, or in their equivalents, that 
M. Boucher de Perthes, Sir C. Lyell, Mr Prestwich, and many 
other geologists, have detected flint implements of human 
manufacture associated with the relics of the great mammals, 
now extinct on the continent of Europe; and it is from the 
study of the physical geology of these drifts that the best 
authorities in the world have been led to infer the very ancient 
creation of the human race. These beds are well developed 
near the Avon at Bricklehampton, and Cropthorne, at Upton 
on Severn, and near the Oxeye gate, about a mile from Tewkes- 
bury, on the Ledbury high road. Near Worcester, they may 
be seen in various localities ranging above the margins of the 
former lakes. I find these drifts also well developed on the 
banks of the Wye near Hereford, and on the road to Hay. 
At Brecon, I found a most interesting old river margin of well 
stratified sand with rolled pebbles, on the slope of a hill, and 
at a height of 50 or 60 feet above the river Usk. ‘The locality 
is Heolhir, or the long Lane, a little way south of Llanfaes. 
The sand is now being quarried for the building of the new 
college; and my friend, the Rev. Reece Price, who conducted 
me to the spot, has promised to give every attention to mam- 
malian remains or flint implements, if haply they should be 
found. 
High-Level Drift.—I would finally call attention to certain 
gravels and drifts which are found at a much higher level 
above the river courses than the drifts just alluded to. These 
gravel beds cap the summits of very considerable hills in the 
vale of Worcester. They occur on Tunnel Hill at Upton on 
Severn, on the summit of Corsewood Hill, on Ryal Hill, and 
at Elmore near Gloucester. They are found along the flanks 
of the Malverns, where they have yielded the remains of 
Elephas antiquus, and Rhinoceros tichorinus, animals that 
lived during the glacial period, and are therefore properly 
associated with the northern drift. This drift was deposited, 
no doubt when the contour of Worcestershire and Gloucester- 
shire was very different from that now presented to our view, 
and when the salt waves rolled over a sea strait, which reached 
from Malvern to the Cotteswoldes, the old Malvern Straits of 
NEW SERIES.—VOL. XIy. NO, 11.—oct. 1861. 20 
