2
THE SUBSIDENCE AT LEXDEN.
field in the morning, finding it there on their return from dinner. The
cavity produced was elliptical in form, about twenty feet in depth,
and seventy-five feet in circumference. The sides were clean cut in
the gravel, which is stratified, and had evidently never been disturbed.
The ground in which the pit appeared consists of a slightly rising
Fig. i.—Diagram-Section of the Subsidence at Lexden (Rev. Osmond Fisher), from "Geological
Magazine," 1865.
bank of valley-gravel, the sub-soil being London clay, and is about
fifty yards south of the River Clone. (Mr. Fisher's section is the
wrong side up on page 101, "Geological Magazine" this is corrected on
the page opposite 192.2 (Fig. 1.)
Mr. F. Rutley states that he saw the subsidence in 1862, and
examined it carefully. The drawing he gives of it (fig. 2), differs
Fig. 2.—Section of pit (Mr. F. Rutley), from "Geological Magazine," 1865.
somewhat from Mr. Fisher's, as might be expected, when it is remem-
bered that Mr. Rutley's visit was much the earlier one. Both writers
agree, however, as to the undisturbed look of the gravel, and as to
appearances generally. We may now turn to their explanations of
this singular occurrence.
2 We are indebted to our member, Mr. W. J. Argent, for preparing these drawings for the
photo-etchins process.—Ed.