Corinthian Capital; and there was more intercourse at this time than previously between the two countries.

The proportions of the Corinthian Columns are in every respect, excepting their Capitals, similar to those of the Ionic; although their form is more graceful, and proportionably more delicate, by reason of the greater height of their Capitals; for Ionic Capitals are a third part only of the lower diameter of the Columns, whereas the Corinthian Capital is equal in height to a whole diameter. The peculiar character of the Capitals thus gives beauty to the Columns, by permitting an increase of the height, without violating the laws of symmetry. The other parts placed on the Corinthian pillars, are common to the Doric and Ionic Orders; it has no particular kind of ornament peculiar to its cornice: sometimes it has the Doric Mutules and Triglyphs in the Architrave; sometimes an Ionic Frieze, with Denteles in the Cornice: so that it is in a manner but a third Order rising out of the other two.

The finest specimens of this style were probably lost in the destruction of Corinth by the Romans. The monument called the Lanthorn of Demosthenes is considered the most exquisite and perfect example of this Order. Many vestiges of it are also found in Asia Minor; as the theatres at Laodicea and Patara. The temple of Jupiter Capitolinus at Rome, was built out of the materials of some edifice of Athens transported thither by Domitian.

After the conquest of Greece by the Romans, the Corinthian Order was universally introduced by them, and seems to have superseded the previous styles. The moderns have adopted the following proportions. The Column is twenty modules in height: the Entablature five modules. If the Entablature is enriched, the Shaft may be fluted, and the fluting filled one third of their height with cabling, a sort of beading within the flute; which in very rich interior decorations, is sometimes composed of reeds, ribbons, flowers, &c. Plate 8.

1

CONVERSATIONS ON GEOLOGY.

CONVERSATION XXVII.

London Clay-Septaria-Amber-Nummullite-Fusus-Auricula-Voluta-Cassis-Natica.

MRS. L.-The Formation we have next to consider is what is called the London Clay. It derives its name from being the general substratum of London and its vicinity, lying immediately under the vegetable soil, except where occasional deposits of gravel or sand have taken place between. This great argillaceous formation is highly interesting from the variety of its organic remains, both animal and vegetable, and the inferences to be drawn from them. The smaller number of species that can be identified with those now existing, are considered to prove the greater antiquity of this deposition than the beds above it; while the vertical position in which we observed it in the Isle of Wight, proves that there at least it must have been broken up by convulsions before other beds were laid on it, and that a sufficient interval must have elapsed to allow it to settle into some degree of consistency, before the newer strata were accumulated upon it. This bed consists almost wholly of bluish or blackish clay, generally very tough. In some places, however, it is mixed with sand, or lime-stone, as in the rocks at Bognor.

Wherever this clay is visible in the form of a cliff, or has been bored through in sinking wells, it has been always found to contain horizontal layers of roundish or flattened masses of argillaceous lime-stone; which, as they have mostly the appearance of having been traversed by cracks, since filled up with calcareous spar of Sulphate of Barytes, have obtained the name of Septaria. The Septaria on the south of Walton on the coast of