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THE GEOLOGIST. 



" nigger." And what for ? Simply to prove the development 

 theory of the " Vestiges," Lamarck, and so on back to the time of 

 Democritus ; for these development theories are not new to the 

 world : they are the old hypothesis dressed np in a new fashion. 

 However, as it is not my pnrpose at present to dispute the ancestry 

 some modern authors have chosen for themselves, I pass on, espe- 

 cially as E have a strong personal objection to any such lineage for 

 myself. 



On Monday the 17th inst. I set out in company with Mr. James 

 Plant, of Leicester, for Belvoir Castle. We walked across the coun- 

 try from Melton to Oroxton, where a friend met us for the purpose 

 of driving us to some of the localities in the neighbourhood best 

 adapted for geological observation, the weather being all a geologist 

 could desire. We were tolerably astounded at the immense mass of 

 typical Lias fossils which we saw near the village of Hedmile ; Ammo- 

 nites, Terebratula, Rhynconella, Plagiostoma, Pecten, Mocliola, Belem- 

 nites, Gryphea, Avieula, and fossil wood and coprolites being met with 

 in abundance. Hugh Miller has told us how he was enchanted with 

 and enchained in the Wren's-nest at Dudley by a slab of Silurian 

 limestone crowded with the remains of palaeozoic life. So similar 

 sensations crept over myself in this liassic burial ground. Thence 

 we passed to another interesting locality at Woolsthorpe brickyard, 

 where some beautiful specimens of Ammonites, Pentacrinites, and a 

 variety of other fossils may be found in the Lias clay. These are ex- 

 ceedingly delicate and small, but not friable. We visited other places 

 more or less interest not necessary to describe here, and the next 

 morning proceeded to Newark, to inspect, if possible, the bones and 

 skull referred to in my last communication ; but in this we failed, as 

 their owner, Dr. Beevor, had sent them to be made into a hat and 

 cloak stand for his hall, placing the skull on the top. A singular 

 appropriation, which can only be accounted for by the fact that the 

 doctor takes no interest in geological matters, and was not aware of 

 the scientific value of the bones. 



He has, however, promised to forward them to Mr. Ingram of 

 Belvoir, who will forward them to you for inspection. 



The particulars I give below are well substantiated, and not the 

 slightest doubt can by any means be thrown on them, as the facts 

 are all well attested. The following is a rough sketch of the district, 

 showing the bends of the river. The Great Northern Railway 

 diverted the course of the river to the channel shown by the dotted 

 lines, and in disrsrinff for the foundation of the bridge over the new 

 channel the workmen came upon the remains in question. 



The whole of the operations were on Mr. Chowler's farm, at Musk- 

 ham, near Newark, and I ought, in justice, to remark that Mr. 

 Chowler was exceedingly kind and polite in affording us all the 

 in formation we required. 



The seel ion shows the depth at which these bones were come upon, 

 to be much greater than was stated in your June number, being 

 twenty-five feet instead of twelve feet. 



