MIDLAND UNION OF NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETIES. 
187 
east, and the Keuper sandstone and marls form the surface of 
the ground ; while, to the westward, the Coal Measures creep over 
the Cambrian rocks, and form the undulating fields on the side of 
the small stream just beyond the quarry. The Coal Measures lie 
unconformably on the Cambrian rocks to the westward, and in 
several places a very characteristic Beach rock of Carboniferous 
age is to seen. 
During the day a very hearty vote of thanks was given to 
the leader for his full descriptions of the exceedingly interesting 
geological ground that was traversed. 
Botanical Excursion. 
This party, numbering fourteen, travelled to Nuneaton by the 
same train as the Geological Section, and accompanied them to the 
first quarry, just behind the Midland Railway Station. Here they 
listened attentively to Prof. Lapworth’s perspicuous explanation of 
the geological structure of the district. They then proceeded to 
Hartshill, and walked through the Hayes, where they found Tilia 
parvifolia, Pyrus torminalis, Sedum reflexion, Milium effusum , and 
Lastrea Borreri, to Oldbury Fort. Here they were received with 
great kindness by Mr. and Mrs. Cox, and visited first the large tank 
(now full of white and yellow waterlilies), which had been made by 
the Romans on the summit of the hill. This was probably used for 
storing water for bathing purposes ; it has a flagged bottom, and is 
supplied by a never-failing spring, but the supply has been lessened 
since the sinking of a well to supply a row of miners’ cottages at the 
foot of the hill. They next visited the remains of the Abbey wall, 
which is now part of the boundary of the pleasure garden, where 
two aged yews afforded a pleasant shade. This wall is recognisable 
as ecclesiastical by the peculiar cross-like arrangement of the bricks. 
The monks used the Roman pond for containing a supply of fish. 
The party then walked round the line of the ancient British earth¬ 
work which crowns the hill. The slope of this is still in parts well 
preserved, and on the mound are growing some fine specimens of 
wych elm, one of which (now partly decayed) was found to measure 
22ft. in circumference. 
August, 1893. 
