42 THE GEOLOGIST. 
easy in a new country to find out the best and most productive places, 
and a few hints from any one who knows them well are invaluable. 
With these introductory remarks, Ave proceed at once to the more 
immediate object of this paper. There is no county in the British 
Isles where the Geology is so varied or interesting as Gloucestershire, 
associated as it is with diversified and beautiful scenery which would 
render it attractive to the mere casual observer. When it is recollected 
that many diff"erent Formations, from the Middle Oolite down to the 
lower Silurian system inclusive, can be studied with comparative ease, 
and a good suite of fossils collected from each stratum, the geologist 
will at once perceive the richness and extent of such a series, and the 
wide field of observation opened out before him. These different 
geological groups comprise a very extensive mass of rocks of vast bulk 
and thickness, of great value for economical purposes, and contain a 
distinct and variable fauna, which gives us an insight into the earth's 
history in past times, from one of the earliest ages up to a much more 
recent period. 
The neighbourhood of Cirencester is undoubtedly the best for ex- 
amining the upper portion of the Lower Oolite, the only member of the 
Middle being the Oxford clay, which has yielded an instructive set of 
fossils, and includes a band which appears to represent the Kelloways 
rock. The geological student will do well to devote a few days to the 
Cornbrash, Forest Marble, and Bradford clay, in connection with the 
Great Oolite, which may be reached within an easy distance of the town, 
and form the chief geological features of interest there. Though the 
Cornbrash is a comparatively thin bed, it makes a valuable soil to the 
agriculturist, and also yields a rich harvest of organic remains to the 
pala3ontologist. These consist chiefly of marine shells, some of which 
are peculiar to this Formation, while others occur also in the Inferior 
Oolite, and may be met with in the quarries near Cirencester, and also 
on the road to Fairford and Cricklade. Among the Brachiopoda there 
are several species of Terebratula3, and among the Echinodermata several 
forms of urchins, which are highly characteristic. The most instructive 
section may be seen at Kemble, on the line of the Great Western 
railway, where the Cornbrash, Forest Marble, Bradford clay, and Great 
Oolite are all present in situ, and exhibit an instructive fault, the 
Cornbrash on one side of it being brought down to a level with the Great 
Oolite on the other. 
