74 LIAS OF ENGLAND AND WALES.' 
separation in some places appears to be clue to the effects of 
disturbance. Mr. Reid observed that near Sarte and at Chappie- 
croft the Sun Bed on top of the " White Rock," exhibited an 
eroded surface with borings of Mollusca. Remains of Otozamites 
have been obtained from the Lower Lias near Membury and 
Axminster. 
Afjain, proceeding inland from the Dorsetshire coast, we find 
the Lower Lias clays developed over a considerable area in the 
higher part of the Char valley a tract known as the Yale of 
Marshwood. An occasional brickyard affords some clue to the 
character of the sub-struts), but there are few sections and no marked 
features to guide us in fixing the boundary between the Lower, 
and Middle Lias. It should, moreover, be borne in mind that 
on the coast there are several faults, while the Oolitic district to 
the east is very much dislocated. So that no doubt many dis- 
turbances affect the clayey beds in the Vale of Marshwood, 
although we have no evidence, such as would be furnished by the 
interruption and displacement of hard strata or recognizable 
bands of stone, to indicate the position of faults. Further north, 
near Axminster and White Staunton, where the limestones out- 
crop, the Lower Lias is shown to be much faulted and broken ; 
some of these disturbances affect also the Cretaceous strata, while 
others appear only to have influenced the older l>3ds. 
The Lower Lias clays occur over much or' the country east of 
Wey croft, near Hawkchurch and Chard junction in the Axe 
Valley, and in the valley by Chardstock and Wambrook the 
limestones being brought up in one or two places by faults.* 
North-east of Chard the clays are sigain exposed, but in this area, 
as in so many others, we have no sections to indicate the palaeonto- 
logical horizons, and to help in fixing the boundary-line with the 
Middle Lias. 
Mr. C. Reid ascertained that at the Ship Inn, near the 
reservoir at Chard, a well Avas sunk 22 feet to black shale, which 
burnt, and had a very offensive smell. Doubtless it was this 
shale, which nviny years ago led to a fruitless trial for coal, when 
about 3.000/. was uselessly expended. Mr. Reid was informed 
that a shaft was sunk 100 feet, and a boring was carried to a 
further depth of 300 feet in the " Lias," but no particulars are 
known.t The reservoir is based on a platform of limestone, but 
this may be only a band in the Lower Lias clays. 
Vale of Taunton to I/minster. 
In the escarpment bordering the Vale of Taunton, the Lower 
Lias reappears from beneath the covering of Cretaceous rocks, 
and is not again so concealed throughout its course. 
The lower portion of the Blue Lias series is exposed in many 
places along this escarpment ; and quarries have been noted by 
* See De la Beche, Report on the Geology of Cornwall, &c., p. 290. 
f De la Beche, Report, p. 515 ; Geol. East Somerset (Geol. Survey), p. 48. 
