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the Rhaetic sea these fissures were filled up with sand and pebbles 

 and the remains of fish and reptiles. Amongst the other remains 

 were found part of the skeleton of the earliest mammal known, 

 called Microlestes, a marsupial closely resembling the kangaroo rat 

 of Australia. Dr. Ord and Mr. Sherring remained at the quarry to 

 search for fossils while the rest of the party resumed the drive to 

 Nunney and proceeded to inspect the castle there. This appears to 

 be something between a manor house and a fortified castle and is 

 surrounded by a moat and is now in a dilapidated condition. After 

 lunch, Nunney Church was inspected, the Rector, the Rev. W. 

 Powell-Davies, kindly describing the various points of interest, 

 including a Norman font and recumbent effigies of the Delamere, 

 Paulett, and Prater families. The party then went on to Mells, 

 where the handsome church was inspected, the Rector, the Rev. E. 

 D. Lear, explaining its beauties in detail. The tower contains eight 

 bells, and the stained glass windows are interesting as having been 

 made and designed locally. There is an early font, a fine brass 

 candelabrum, date 1720, and a magnificent wooden roof, also some 

 good brasses. The Manor-house, dating from 1420, was next visited 

 and other points of interest in the charming village. Tea was taken 

 at the Talbot Inn, after which a business meeting was held, in the 

 course of which Mr. C. J. Hankinson, J. P., was elected a Vice- 

 President. After tea the Rector showed the party over his beautiful 

 garden, and the company then returned by carriage to Shepton 

 Mallet, catching the last train back to Bournemouth. The thanks 

 of the Society are due to Mr. W. F. Barnes, of the Shepton Mallet 

 Natural History Society, who very kindiy made the necessary local 

 arrangements and acted as general conductor throughout the day. 



Some time afterwards the historic ruin known as Nunney Castle, 

 situate about three miles from Frome, partially collapsed. Practi- 

 cally the whole of that side of the castle facing the north-west fell 

 in, causing a great gap, and completely destroying the beauty of the 

 ancient building. Archaeologists will greatly regret the breaking up 

 of the old castle, which was probably due to the tremendously heavy 

 rains, which have soaked through the ruined walls. The fine 

 carving in the main doorway is destroyed and buried under a mass 

 of huge stones. The part of the building which has collapsed has 

 for two or three years past shown signs of weakness. It was this 

 particular portion of the castle that came in for the worst of the 

 bombardment which the castle underwent at the hands of Crom- 

 well's men. Nunney Castle was for many years the seat of the de 

 la Mere family. In the time of Richard II the castle passed into 

 the family of Paulet, afterwards Dukes of Bolton. In the time of 

 Queen Elizabeth it belonged to Sir William Paulet, K.G., the first 

 Marquis of Winchester, by whom the estate was disposed, and after 

 passing through several other families it is now the property of Mr. 

 R. Baily-Neale. The walls, now overgrown with ivy, are of great 

 strength, the side walls being 7ft. 6in. in thickness, and those of the 

 tower 7ft., and within these are passages and staircases. A moat, 

 22ft. wide and 10ft. deep, which communicated with a stream flowing 

 near, surrounded the whole building. During the Civil War, the 



