I2S 
PROCEEDINGS COTTESWOLD CLUB 
1916 
The Ophiolepis zone is about i-i to 2 inches thick ; it occurs midway 
between the Esiheria Limestone and the upper of the two large bone beds. 
The following particulars of these beds, showing the order in which they occur, 
will no doubt enable any of our readers to obtain a specimen : — 
Thin band (bone bed) containing arsenical pyrites, very hard, f inch. 
Fossiliferous shales (containing cardium, etc.) very soft, i inch. 
Ophiolepis bed (apparently unfossiliferous), inches. 
Fossiliferous shale (soft), i inch. 
Arsenical pyrites (very hard), i inch. 
On May 20th a paper on the Ophiolepis was read before the Members 
of the Cotteswold Naturalists’ Field Club, by Dr. Wright, when the following 
interesting communication was made. (Extracted with corrections from the 
Gloucester Journal of May 22nd.) 
“ This discovery imparts a new interest to the Rhaetic series. Doubts 
had arisen both on the Continent and in this country as to the conditions 
under which the Rhaetic beds were deposited — a fresh water character 
having been claimed for them, such was the opinion of Edward Forbes, 
and iTiitil the discovery of these Ophurites there was no decisive evidence 
to the contrary. The presence, however, of these little Brittle-stars is 
decisive as to the marine character of the beds in which they were found.” 
Those at Hildesheim were found between the upper and lower bone 
beds in association with the bones of Hybodus. 
The following is a section of the Leicester Rhaetics : — 
Black Shales, 10 feet I Only one soft bone 
Gray Marl, 40 feet y bed near the black shales 
Red Marl (Trias) j very much denuded. 
The above is all that is known of the Ophiolepis Damesii, the first im- 
portant discovery of the Members of the Gloucester School of Science Philoso- 
phical Society, which bids fair to bear out the prediction of its President that 
‘‘ Oft mighty things from small beginnings grow.” 
G. Embrey, 
School of Science, Gloucester. 
June i6th, 1875. 
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