Societies and Academies

Abstract

LONDON Geologists' Association.—The excursion to Ludlow and the Longmynds on July 22 and five following days, the concluding and most important field meeting of the season, was under the direction of Prof. Morris, F.G.S., Mr. R. Lightbody, F.G.S., and the Rev. J. D. La Touche, B.A. After the members had assembled in Ludlow Castle the Upper Ludlow rocks on the right bank of the Teme were examined, and Mr. Lightbody gave his reasons for considering the Aymestry Limestone to be represented at a point near the old bridge, although Pentamerus Knightii is not found here. The Upper Ludlow contains Chonetes lata in great abundance, and scarcely a fragment of the rock was picked up without this species being seen on the surface. From the high ground by the river side the valley of the Teme may be advantageously seen. The river here flows through a gorge in the Upper Ludlow rocks, with the castle and town of Ludlow picturesquely situated on the left bank; while the “Old Red” country extends beyond to the Clee Hills, the igneous summits of which commandingly rise to the east, surrounded by the coal measures. The well-known section in Ludford Lane, showing the “bone-bed,” was next visited. This bone-bed, or “gingerbread,” as it is sometimes called from its appearance, is in places not more than a quarter of an inch thick, and is found only after careful search. The fragments of the remains of fish, of which it is partly made up, were until comparatively recently the oldest fish remains known. The following day (Tuesday) was devoted to an examination of sections of the Aymestry Limestone, Lower Ludlow, and Wenlock rocks, occurring in the course of a route of about twenty miles. The journey was performed by means of carriages, but abundant occupation was given for the hammers of the party at the various exposures of the richly fossiliferous rocks above named. Graptolites from the Lower Ludlow were obtained in abundance, and fine specimens of Phacops longicaudatus were found in the Wen-lock, exposed in the bed of the Teme, near Burrington; while * Making proper allowance for the precession of the equinoxes,