THE OOLITE FORMATION. 



these stones grow so uncommon fast, that it is impossible 

 ever to get shut on 'em." 



2nd. The Stonesfield Slate. — The Stonesfield slate is the 

 upper member of the oolite of this neighbourhood, and, as 

 it occurs on the Cotteswolds, it is a thick bed, of a light 

 coloured stone, inclining to grey ; it is found in a conform- 

 able position in the quarry, in laminae from half to an inch 

 in thickness ; these laminar beds observe the usual line of 

 dip, except from local dislocation, when they may occasion- 

 ally be seen dipping in all directions. "The hthological 

 structure of our slate is similar to the Stonesfield, as found 

 at Blenheim, near Oxford,^^^ but we have not yet succeeded 

 in finding those varied animal remains in our stratum, which 

 so decidedly characterize the Stonesfield at Blenheim ; still 

 we are not without that curious admixture of animal and 

 vegetable remains which render this rock so remarkable. 

 Wood of various kind is found with the slate on Syerford 

 Common, and from a quarry near Bourton-on-the- Water, 

 I have succeeded in obtaining some specimens of the seeds 

 of a dycotelydenous plant. 



Of animal remains, I have in my possession specimens of 

 the long thin teeth of the Pterodactylus, and also some slen- 

 der bones, evidently belonging to the wings of these singular 

 animals, together with palates of several species of fishes ; 

 but no animal in a sufficient state of perfection to enable us 

 to decide upon its specific character. 



Of multilocular shells, one ammonite, which I think has 

 never before been described ; the following is its specific 

 character. 



Shell flat, acute round the margin, whorls from 7 to 8, 

 outer whorl very much the largest, the inner ones more 



* Murchison's Geology of Cheltenham. 



