THE MIDDLE LIAS OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 
119 
fareata, isolated tufts of Badula complanata, and the purple 
patches of Frullania dilatata, and how and again, but more 
rarely, F. tamarisci. Making my way over Out Hill and by 
Lower Skilts to Ipsley, I found in a tuft of H;/p. Swartzii a 
few isolated plants of Fossombronia pusilla, a very local 
hepatic m this county, and on the bridge over the Arrow at 
Ipsley Tortilla revoluta, T. muralis , and Grimmia pulvinata . 
I might probably have added still more to my list, for the 
district is evidently a rich one, but the light began to wane 
and the mosses were unrecognisable, and though I could have 
wished for a longer spell of light, I felt I had done fairly 
well, and had been so well occupied that time had fled more 
rapidly than I had thought. To those who look with con¬ 
tempt on these studies, it may seem that I had taken a great 
deal of trouble for very little good, but to such I would reply, 
in the words of Southey, k ‘ Do not depreciate any pursuit 
which leads men to contemplate the works of their Creator ! 
The Linnaean traveller who, when you look over the pages 
of his journal, seems to you a mere botanist, has, in his 
pursuit, as you have in yours, an object that occupies his 
time and fills his mind, and satisfies his heart. It is as 
innocent as yours, and as disinterested, perhaps more so, 
because it is not so ambitious. Nor is the pleasure he par¬ 
takes in investigating the structure of a plant less pure or 
less worthy than what you derive from perusing the noblest 
productions of human genius.” 
THE MIDDLE LIAS OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 
BY BEEBY THOMPSON, F.G.S., F.C.S. 
PART II. 
Palaeontology. 
(Continued from page 77.) 
In dealing with the stratigraphy of the Middle Lias of 
Northamptonshire, as will have been observed, I have 
endeavoured to trace, not only the zones, but the separate 
beds over a rather large area. My success has not been equal 
to my wishes ; nevertheless, it has added considerably to the 
interest of the work, and may be of some use to future 
observers. It is not usual to be so particular in giving lists 
of fossils from the separate beds as I have been, so a few 
remarks as to the reason for it seems called for. 
