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THE GEOLOGIST. 



ravine. At one point, where diverging currents had formerly existed when 

 the bed of the stream stood at a higher level, a large mass of the sandstone has 

 been separated from the walls of the glen, and now stands in the middle of the 

 stream. It has been named the " Devil's Pulpit," and is the principal rendez- 

 vous for pic-nic parties. Our geologists, however, duly exorcised this Satanic 

 region, and having spent a pleasant hour in this secluded spot, proceeded by 

 their omnibuses along the valley of Strathblane, and by the wooded hill of 

 Dungoich, and the towering heights of Dunfoyne and Dungoyne. 



Passing on the right the old ruin of Duntreath Castle, with its ivy-clad 

 walls, and the " big oak" of Blairwhush, they arrived at Strathblane. Here 

 the teams were unharnessed for an hour, and most of the excursionists pro- 

 ceeded on foot to visit the Spout of Ballagan, a short distance to the east, on 

 the north side of the valley. The magnificent section of thin-bedded strata 

 seen at the Spout proved extremely interesting. After procuring several 

 varieties of gypsum and other specimens, the party returned to Strathblane, 

 and proceeded to Glasgow by Milngavie, highly delighted with the day's pro- 

 ceedings. Indeed, this has been the most successful of all the excursions the 

 society has yet had, whether we consider the number who joined in it, or the 

 interest manifested in the localities visited. 



It being the first to which ladies have been admitted, their cheerful presence 

 added much to the general enjoyment, while they were not behind the gentle- 

 men in locomotive power. It is to be hoped that frequent opportunities may 

 be afforded them of joining in future excursions of the society. 



The Woolhope and Malvern Naturalists' Pield Clubs. — The mem- 

 bers of the Woolhope and Malvern Naturalists' Pield Clubs met at Ludlow on 

 May 23rd and 24th, for two field-days. The first excursion was to examine 

 the Caradoc beds up the Onny Valley, and at Marsh Brook and Acton Scott. 

 The Malvern members arrived on Wednesday night, proceeded by train next 

 morning to Marsh Brook, and from thence walked to a quarry near Acton Scott, 

 in the middle Caradoc formation, which is rich in fossil remains. Prom thence 

 the members retraced their steps to Marsh Brook, and examined the sections 

 along the Horderley Road. Those nearest the railway station are Caradoc, 

 and a little further on are the beds of the Longmynd or Bottom Rocks, all the 

 beds of which were considered to be unfossiliferous until Mr. Salter, about two 

 vears ago, discovered worm-tracks, and a portion of a Crustacean, in the grey 

 beds immediately overlying the olive shales. A little further along the road is 

 a large quarry of Bala limestone, the beds of which are tilted up nearly vertical, 

 and on the lower side of the quarry the lowest beds of Caradoc formation lie 

 conformably to it, containing several scarce and new organisms, such as Tri- 

 nucle.ua concentricus, a new Asaphus, a new Fenestella. and several other remains; 

 from the Bala limestone were procured several specimens of a new Lingula. 

 Prom thence, crossing the River Onny by the stepping-stones, and proceeding 

 by the side of the river, they examined the loose stones that are thrown down 

 from several quarries of the Horderley flags or Middle Caradoc, amongst which 

 the beautiful oak-fern {Polypodium droopier is) grows most luxuriantly. About 

 a mile further down the stream (though up the beds) the celebrated Onny 

 section was reached, showing the Purple Shale or Lower Wenlock, the Penta- 

 merus limestone, and the uppermost beds of the Caradoc, all in one continuous 

 section. From the Caradoc were procured some fine specimens of Trinucleus 

 concentricus, and from the Purple Shale Orthis biloba, Encrinurus punctatus, 

 Leptana lavigata, Atrypa reticularis, and Petraia Una. The Pentamerus lime- 

 si one is here a very thin band, containing only Pentamerus undatus ; thence a 

 walk of about a mile and a half to Craven Arms and back to Ludlow per train, 

 concluded the first day's excursion. 



