THE MIDDLE LIAS OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 
185 
Natural History. I venture to say in conclusion, is one of 
the most rational hobbies a man can take up ; it brings him 
in direct contact and communication with Nature ; it improves 
his health and elevates his mind, and, whatever branch he 
may undertake to study, he will find that honest work never 
fails of its reward. 
THE MIDDLE LIAS OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 
Part I. 
BY BEEBY THOMPSON, F.C.S., F.G.S. 
(Continued from page 152.) 
Bed “K.” 
This bed is a sandy clay or shale, highly micaceous, 
varying in colour from grey to light reddish brown, according 
to the amount of weathering it has undergone. At Chalcomb 
the joints and surfaces are red, and there is a thin line of 
small concretionary ferruginous nodules. The light-coloured 
specimens do not effervesce with acids, and the grey ones 
only slightly. The material of the bed seems very pervious 
to water, and when it is wet it readily crumbles down, In 
consequence of these properties most of the fossils are only 
casts, and they are preserved with difficulty unless the 
material is dry when they are extracted, but they are 
rather abundant. The thickness of this bed appears to be 
about Gf't. At Chalcomb it measures 5ft. 7in., Staverton, 
5ft. 9in. The fossils in this bed so nearly agree with those in 
the two beds above it that I have not thought it necessary to 
give separate lists. 
Bed “ J.” 
This bed differs very little in appearance and fossils from 
the two softer beds between which it occurs. It is yellowish 
brown in colour, micaceous, and ferruginous where I have 
found it, and when specimens of it are placed side by side 
with others from the beds immediately above and below it 
they are scarcely distinguishable without an appeal to the 
hardness. The hardness appears to be due to carbonate of 
lime, at least there is no other evident cause for it. Although 
this bed is so nearly like the two between which it is placed, 
and is probably not persistent over any large area, I have 
found it useful in giving an idea of the development of the 
Middle Lias beds, where the softer beds are covered up—on 
