52 
the incoming of a sea swarming with the earliest great reptilian 
forms over isolated lagoons formed on the old desert-lands of 
the Trias. Mr. Wickes’ assistance, and his detailed description 
of the section, were of the highest value and were greatly 
esteemed. 
Dulcote Hill, On August 27th a strong party journeyed to 
Wookey Hole, Shepton Mallet and thence by motor-brake to 
and Wells. On the way Croscombe Church was 
Ebbor Rocks. visited, and Dulcote Hill was ascended. Mr. 
H. E. Balch, F.S.A., of Wells, who had joined 
the party as director, here gave a description of -the structure of 
the Southern Mendips, on the outward fold of which the party 
stood. The region displays the successive parallel lines of up¬ 
heaval and the transverse faults nearly always found in connection 
with that formation. The drive was continued through Wells to 
Underwood quarry, where was seen the Dolomitic conglomerate, 
or shore deposit of the Triassic sea, formed by the waste of the 
carboniferous rocks which stood as islands in that sea.* Shortly 
beyond that point Wookey Hole and the neighbouring Hyaena 
Den were searched. Br. Balch gave an account of some of his 
researches in the Mendip caverns. At first as to their successive 
formation, development and subsequent degradation into open 
ravines, and afterwards in regard to their occupation, whether by 
wild beasts or by primitive man, down to the period of the Roman 
occupation of .Britain. This was followed by a thorough explora¬ 
tion of the vast ramifications of the great cave. Afterwards the 
party walked to the Ebbor Rocks, a gorge similar in origin and 
upheaval to the more celebrated Cheddar Cliffs. Returning to 
Wells, where tea was served, Mr. Balch afterwards showed some 
of his discoveries in the Museum, they were chiefly illustrative of 
the prehistoric occupation of the Mendip caves. The excursion 
was one of varied and absorbing interest, heightened by the 
admirable descriptions given by Mr. Balch, to whom the heartiest 
thanks were rendered. 
Swanage Bay. On September 10th a party, under the direction 
Ballard Down, of Dr. Ord, journeyed by steamer to Swanage, 
and Studland. and, proceeding northward, examined in succes¬ 
sion the Wealden and Neocomian strata of 
Swanage Bay and Punfield Cove. Ascending to Ballard Down 
thence to Handfast Point the series of chalk stacks were seen, 
then crossing the Down to Studland, the junction of the 
Chalk and Lower Tertiaries, as well as the coloured sands of the 
Bagshot series, the counterpart of those at Alum Bay were 
observed. The mode of stack, pinnacle and cavern formation in 
chalk was studied with much interest, and explained by the con- 
* See Dr. Ord’s paper, “The Geology of Cheddar,” Proc. vol. iv., p. 90 . 
