296 
THE GEOLOGIST. 
Avavcs at liigli tide. A liapiiier party could hardly be met with than 
the half-dozen hammerers who sat, in the August sunshine, on the 
sea-shore, and knoc-ked out the Oldhamias fi'om the rocks, or watched 
the seagidls tishing iu the l)ay. 
The Camhrian deposits were long believed to be unfossiliferous, and 
to represent a periotl of this planet's history liefore the introduction 
of life upon it. Yet we have now contradicting evidence in the 
presence of zoophytes and sea-worms in the " Oldliamia beds " of a 
trilobite, amielids, and fucoids, with rain-marks, on the old beach in 
the equivalent rocks of the Longmyuds. Some of us thought that it 
might be a mis-reading of the geologic records to imagine the creative 
fiat terminating for ages in sea-worms or Lingulas, or that no other 
animals liA'ed in the Cambrian e^ioch because geologists have not yet 
discovered their remains. Geologists know but little, as yet, of 
Cambrian deposits and their organisms. Every day the depths of the 
present seas are yielding new treasures to the dredger ; and genera 
of animals supiio.sed to be extinct appear to overthrow theories and 
presumptions. We believe it would be wiser to wait a Avhile, ere Ave 
talk of " eternal oceans," " wastes of uninhabited shore," "tenantless 
Cambrian lands," or Cambrian seas inhabited solely by zoophytes, 
fucoids, sea-worms, and a few trilobites. 
As far as the physical geology went, we thought the Bray beds very 
imsatisfactorj^, and were obliged to rest content with the assurance 
that they are seen to underlie nnconformably beds which may be the 
equivalents of our " Lingula-flags," to the west of Eray. 
It is impossible to say too much of the rich glow and Ijlcnding of 
colour we beheld in the hills of AVicklow during the Avalk of that 
afternoon. The hills were purple and gold with the beautiful 
bell-flowered heath and the yellow blossoms of the gorse. We 
returned to Dublin by a late train, and, before parting, agreed to 
make that a " red-letter day " which we passed among the " Old- 
hamia-schists " and flower-sjjangled hills of WickloAV. Surely such 
days should be marked, they are golden hours in a man's life, 
for which we are to l)e grateful. He must have a hard heart who can 
return home, after such a day, cherishing envy or uncharitableness, or 
Avho can pass hours among the noble Avorks of creation by the bold 
sea, the rock of ancient days, under the clear sky and among bright 
flowers, without a feeling of gratitude toAvards Him Avhosc Avondrous 
works they are, and Avho has giA'-en us the cai)ability so deeply to 
enjoy them. As for only philosophers enjoying these things, it is the 
appreciation of them that elevates the man into the jihilosopher — the 
l«ver of Avisdom. 
{To be coiilinued.) 
