51 
of all geological ages was shown to be due, in some degree, to 
their position on debateable ground between land and sea, a 
condition which has lasted for ages, though the sea has not always 
lain as .now to the westward. 
Barton Cliffs. The first excursion of the season took place on 
May 24th, when Mr. H. St. Barbe conducted a. 
party of the Section in an examination of the exposure of chiefly 
the Middle Barton beds, lying between Chewton Glen, where the 
section .was reached, and Barton Court. This part of the clifi 
contains the richest fossil zones of this well-known series. Some 
of the party worked the much tumbled undercliff, whilst others 
kept to the beach. On arrival at the Milton Station Hotel, where 
tea was taken, a fair number of the typical species was ascer¬ 
tained to have been collected, including several fine specimens. 
Owing to the measures taken in hand to combat the very serious 
coast erosion at this point it is probable that this classic ground 
will in future be closed to the geologist. This fact adds very 
materially to the importance of the recent acquisition by the 
Society of the Dent Collection, which was largely made along this 
section of the coast. 
Durlston Bay. On June 14th the Chairman, Dr. W. T. Ord, 
conducted a party along the exposure of the Upper, Middle and 
Lower Purbeck strata in Durlston Bay, which were examined in 
succession, and their various features explained. The large 
Dinosaur footprints on a slab of L T pper Purbeck, near the Coast¬ 
guard Station, were seen, though the passage of many modern 
leather-shod feet was seen to be rapidly effacing them. The 
mammal bed was located and eagerly searched, of course, without 
result. Some unusually large blocks of gypsum were seen on 
the beach near the zig-zag path, fallen from the Lower Purbeck. 
This excursion was of considerable interest and much enjoyed. 
Aust Cliff, Severn An excursion was arranged to visit the well- 
Estuary. known exposure of L T pper Triassic, Rhaetie, and 
Lower Lias beds of this classic locality. On 
July 4th Dr. W. T. Ord gave a preliminary account of the section 
at a meeting at the Society’s rooms, and exhibited some of the 
typical fossils from his collection. On July 9th a small party 
journeyed to Bristol, and thence by motor-brake to Aust, accom¬ 
panied by Mr. W. H. Wickes, of Clifton, who acted as director. 
The short, but extremely interesting, exposure was examined as 
thoroughly as time permitted. It consists at the base of the red 
and “ tea-green ” marls of the 'Frias,, succeeded by the entire 
Rhaetie series and crowned with the lowest beds of the Lias. 
Much collecting was done from the fallen blocks of the Rhaetie, 
especially from the celebrated bone bed. The period is that of 
