PROCEEDINGS OF GEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES. 
379 
from the neighbouring quarries on the hill now appeared alongside the road ; 
these were quite a treat to look into, but sadly tantalizing withal. We 
anxiously peered at the semi-enshrined fossils, and reluctantly left them, our 
small trimming hammers were unequal to the fray, which required a tool with 
at least a three or four pound head, to shiver such refractory stuff as tough 
marlstone rock. A pleasant sight was it to see busy teams and men in every field 
" carrying the wheat," some of these swarthy sons of the soil we descried under 
a hedge reposing ; they were discussing, in an interval of labour, their cider 
and bread and cheese. Accosting them, we inquired the way to Beckford Inn. 
" Three mile," said one, a stalwart reaper ; " will'ee lend us your hammer ?" — 
" What to do," rejoined we, " to cut our bahyt {i. e. bait or food) wi'," said 
the fellow, good humouredly. It could not be spared, so we pushed on, not 
omitting to entertain the inference that the dairy produce must be veri/ hard in 
those parts, and reached Beckford Inn. This well known hotel stands near the 
cross roads. Here, we thought, some track of the Cotteswoldlians must be 
detected. A young crinolined and ringletted daughter of Boniface appeared, 
and soon alleviated hopes and fears with news, " that the gents were gone up 
to Alderton stone quarry." Resuming our way — we had not gone far, ere we 
learnt from a cow-boy that the people were " up in the brickyard;" and [there 
they were sure enough, near upon thirty of them, scrutinizing mother earth, and 
intent upon their work, A very large " brick pit" it was, extending into the 
very base of Dumbleton Hill. This, as I said before, is one of the outliers, 
moored as it were off the northern chain of the Cotteswold. The others are 
Bredon, Stanley, Oxenton, Churchdowu and Robin's Wood Hill, all truly iso- 
lated ; a few others partake of the peninsular character. Their formation is 
identical; and what we shall say of Dumbleton wiU apply to the rest. 
At the "Brickfield" they were excavating a fine stiff clay, making part of 
the Upper Lias, called " the A. raricostatus Zone," after the ammonite of that 
name, which pervades it. Some good Lias fossils were here turned ap, among 
which we noticed ammonites, crenatulae, cuculleae and gryphites ; it also yielded 
to the explorers' havresacs some admixture of fossils of " marlstone type, in- 
dicating, as some thought, the presence of true " passage-beds" between the 
Lower and Middle Lias, To this fast growing use of the expression " passage- 
beds" we venture to take exception, unless it be used with proper restriction. 
Every formation, every bed almost, is, in a certain sense, a " passage-bed." 
" Natura non facit saltum" Ascending the spur of the hill we quit the Lower 
Lias beds that form the lower floor of the vale and basement of the hill, thence 
passing over the marlstones of the middle Lias, near the top of which the marl- 
stone rock is exposed by frequent quarrying for road-metal, we come to the 
Upper Lias entablature of the hill. This consists of blue and yellowish shales, 
through which, with irregular course, runs the "Fish-bed," a band of "cement- 
stones," not worked in these parts, but of considerable economic value. They 
are worked in Yorkshire, at Boulogne, and particularly at De Vagoy, in France. 
Also in Canada and in the States of America. Roman cement is fabricated 
from them : they are first burnt, then ground to powder, and packed closely in 
air-tight barrels on account of their strong affinity for the moisture of the 
atmosphere. Tertiary concretions, it is well known, are also used for the same 
purpose. 
Some of the party were now at the marlstone, of which I will say a word. 
The under zones of Middle Lias, from being destitute of value, are never 
excavated, and are, therefore, only to be got at in a ehance drain, or deep 
ditch or lane cutting. Concealment is the rule till we come to the marlstone. 
This material is of undoubted toughness ; the quarrymen call one bed of it 
the " Leather Bed ;" still, unlike leather, it gives out a clear ringing sound 
from the impact of the hammer. Here the company, encouraged by the sight 
