GREAT OOLITE: FAIRFORD. 297 
Bodies, from a Quarry in Fairford-Field, North-east of the Town, 
Gloucestershire."* 
It is remarkable that here as well as in other localities of the 
Great Oolite, and in the famous Corallian locality of Steeple 
Ashton in Wiltshire, the Corals have been obtained from the 
ploughed fields. The explanation may be that while no stone 
worth quarrying is to be obtained, yet the number of Corals has 
naturally attracted attention. Mr. R. F. Tomes mentions that a 
large number of Corals were collected near Fairford by Miss 
Slatter, " whose attention was first directed to them by the 
appearance of numerous corals scattered over the surface of a 
ploughed field. Subsequently a great many unworn and beautiful 
examples were obtained, from excavations made for the purpose of 
collecting specimens."f 
The position of the Coral-Bed was thus stated by Dr. Lycett : 
" At the base of the Cornbrash, near Fairford, is a stratum of 
marl which has also yielded a profusion of Corals in a fine state 
of preservation " ; and he adds (in a footnote) " The position of 
this coralline stratum has been determined by my friend Mr. 
[John] Jones, of Gloucester."! Writing in 1858, the Rev. P. B. 
Brodie referred to the bed as probably connected with the Forest 
Marble or perhaps the Cornbrash, but he added " the locality has 
been kept secret, and few collectors are acquainted with it." 
In 1888 Mr. T. J. Slatter kindly directed me to the famed 
spot. He described the bed as a lenticular deposit, almost as 
white as chalk-marl ; and varying in thickness from a few inches to 
about 2 feet. He regards it as the base of the Forest Marble and 
as probably on the horizon of the Bradford Clay : and therefore 
somewhat later in date thaa the Coral-bed of Caps Lodge, near 
Burford. I regard it as belonging to the Great Oolite, The 
Fairford Corals include the following species : 
Bathycoenia Slatteri. 
CryptocoBnia microphylla. 
tuberosa. 
Isastrasa explauulata. 
gibbosa. 
limitata. 
Microsolena excelsa. 
Montlivaltia fairfordensis. 
Stylina solida. 
Thamnastraea Lyelli. 
Waltoni. 
Thecosmilia Slatteri. 
Anabacia cornplanata is so rare that only one example from 
this locality had come under the notice of Mr. Tomes. 
The Fairford Corals occur in a ploughed field about mile east 
of Honeycomb Leaze, and a little west of an old Barn. A shallow 
pit (now filled up) at one time exposed the Coral-bed, but most 
of the specimens have been obtained from the soil ploughed up in 
the field. Judging by the Geological Survey Map (published in 
1857) the bed occurs at about the junction of the Cornbrash and 
Forest Marble, but this view is not confirmed by an examination 
of the ground. The Cornbrash is exposed to the south, about 
* Nat. Hist. Foss. England, Tome ii. p. 75. 
1 Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. xxxix. p. 170. 
The Cotteswold Hills, 1857, p. 54. 
Geologist, vol. i. p. 43. 
