ON THE GOTHAM MARBLE 
149 
adduced. This is in reality an advantage. In spite of the 
imitations collected by Woodward of arborescent structure, 
there is nothing to parallel the true Landscape, with its 
combination of “ hedge,” “trees,” “ branches,” and hum- 
mocky canopy. It stands alone in the records of Nature, 
whether ancient or modern. Therefore any explanation 
that is commonplace is seriously discounted, and only in 
some fortuitous chain of circumstances must the true 
reading of the riddle be found. The shallow lagoon, the 
chemical precipitation, the embryonic sun-cracking, the first 
scanty and then abundant repetition of the precipitation — 
these constitute a record not likely to be repeated. From 
the extravagance of my postulates I argue for their truth. 
The “hedge-structure,” however, need not be, and is 
not, uncommon. 
Another question arises — is there independent evidence 
that the Rhaitics were laid down in a very shallow but 
extensive lagoon ? I believe there is. The Keuper lake 
had evaporated nearly to dryness, and left an immense 
nearly flat plain. The bone-bed is a shallow- water forma- 
tion. Ripple-marks and sun-cracks abound in the Rhastics 
And the Gotham Marble itself contains evidence of hot sun, 
and still shallow water, in the numerous insect wings it 
contains. It will be noticed that all theories of the Cotham 
Marble involve shallow water. 
I am deeply indebted in the preparation of this essay to 
my friend James Parsons, Esq., B.Sc., F.G.S., for his able 
criticisms and advice, and for some of my specimens. I 
have also heartily to thank Mr. J. Case for the photography, 
and Dr. T. Fisher for permission to photograph calculi from 
the museum of the Royal Inflrniary. 
