THE LOWER OOLITES NEAR BRISTOL 
151 
■ I. INTRODUCTION. 
T he object of this paper is to indicate the localities 
nearest Bristol where the Inferior Oolite and Great 
Oolite series may be observed in fairly complete sequence, 
and also to enumerate the principal faunal contents of 
each bed of the series at these localities. The palaeon- 
tological record has, however, no pretension to complete- 
ness, only those species being mentioned which have 
come under my own observation. 
In addition to the usual zonal arrangement, that portion 
of Mr. S. S. Buckman’s palaeontological time table which 
is applicable to the deposits under review is introduced. 
It will serve as a standard, by reference to which the 
completeness or otherwise of the sections to be described 
may be tested. The use of this table will also help to 
render familiar the method of detailed palaeontological 
subdivision, on the lines of which much recent work has 
been done.^ 
Mr. Buckman divides the period during which the beds 
from the Midford Sands to the Cornbrash were formed 
into twenty-five parts or “ hemerae,” indexed chiefly by 
Ammonites. In introducing the term hemera ” he 
says : ^ “ The geological unit for the correlation of strata 
has hitherto been the ' zone.’ Gradually, however, it 
has been felt that either the zones must be increased 
in number, or some modification adopted, if the 
true faunal sequence is to be expressed with that 
accuracy which is now necessary. It is for a palaeon- 
tological purpose that I propose the term ‘ hemera.’ 
Its meaning is ‘ day ’ or ‘ time ’ ; and I wish 
1 I desire to acknowledge my indebtedness to Mr. S. S. Buckman, 
Mr. J. W. D. Marshall, and Mr. A. Vaughan, for help rendered in the 
identification of specimens. 
2 “The Bajocian of the Sherborne District,” Q.J.G.8., vol. xlix. 
