("ancient life") beds of Siluria* and the Old Red Sandstone, full of the remains of zoophytes (corals), molluscs (shell-fish), and fishes of curious forms. On the east, in the direction of Gloucester and the Cotteswold Hills, are the Mesozoic ("middle life") strata, of the Triassic and Oolitic formations, containing another and a still fuller series of invertebrate animals, and a multitude of Saurian and other reptilian remains. These two ancient systems of life are totally distinct from each other, and from all existing species of animals, and belong to two different periods of time. They are divided only by the narrow wall of the Malvern chain, "the bare hill by the Severn," as the word Malvern probably means.

The eloquent author of that very interesting work, "Pictures of Nature round Malvern," thus speaks of the hills in the earlier pages of his book:-"These mountains of pastoral beauty, as they have been well called, seen in their full extent to the last declining eminence of Keysend Hill, in the south, offer a perspective view that can be rarely, if at all, excelled. A fine breadth of richlywooded country intervenes in such a position before the charmed eye; and if, as is often the case, in a spring morning, masses of white vapour, wreathing the ridge of the shadowed deep blue chain, are slowly and uncertainly rising into air,

* So called from the Silures, an ancient British tribe, inhabiting this district in the days of Caractacus.

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there is an effect of freshness upon the eye, that, while it fixes the contemplative gaze, communicates an invigorating purity of thought to the mind." In another place he says: "The Malvern Hills, forming in appearance a continuous chain, rising like stairs one above the other,' as old Camden has described them, are an interesting feature in the scenery when viewed from almost any point; but, rising more abruptly on their eastern sides, they are seen to most advantage from the plain of Worcestershire, where, at a distance varying from four to fifty miles, they seem invariably to barrier the western horizon. Hence, as the countrypeople say, 'Malvern Hill is seen everywhere.' Or, as Dyer has graphically sketched them connected with the Severn, in descriptive language rarely equalled:

:

"The vales of Severn, Nature's garden wide,

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By the blue steeps of distant Malvern wall'd,

Solemnly vast."

Perhaps the extensive waste orcommon that still remains uninclosed at the base of the hills near Little Malvern, Welland, and Castlemorton, offers one of the best spots for a near view of the hills; though even here much will depend upon the time and season when the view is taken. But the extent of the gorsy waste, intersected with gullies, and marked with occasional cottages, offers a foreground divested of enclosures, behind which the long Apennine towers in all its majesty."

The two highest points, the Worcestershire Beacon and the North Hill, are

northern extremity of the chain.

situated at the

At the foot of

the ravine which runs up between them, and sheltered by these two hills, lies the

TOWN OF MALVERN

Irregularly built, with houses of every variety of architecture, mansions, villas, cottages, for the most part surrounded with tastefully laid-out gardens, with belts of luxuriant trees and evergreen shrubs, it forms a most picturesque object from whichever point it is approached, and presents even now, with its widely-extended limits, a rural appearance at once original and interesting.

One of the great advantages of Malvern, as regards scenic effect, and one which will always preserve to it a great portion of its pristine beauty, is the fact that the houses are, with few exceptions, built detached, and on plots of ground sufficiently large to leave to each a garden or shrubbery, or both, as the varying tastes of the owners may dictate, so that there is a considerable space around each house verdant with trees and evergreen shrubs, which seem to luxuriate in the genial air of this favoured locality. It is a well-known fact that shrubs grow and flourish in Malvern in a manner that would astonish amateur and other gardeners in most parts of the country. Roses of all kinds

should be especially noticed as exuberating most wonderfully in the neighbourhood.

Malvern is expanding in every direction, and in a most picturesque manner. Scarcely two houses are built alike, either as regards style or position. They face in every possible direction, so that, if a "smart shower" of houses had fallen from the clouds, the effect could scarcely have been more diverse. This tends very much to prevent Malvern from being, in appearance, what, since the year 1851, it has been in reality, i. e. a Town. It still preserves the name of village amongst strangers, may it long be so called!-but, year by year, it is stretching out rapidly, north, south, and east; the hills alone "barring" houses west. But, as if to "get over the hills," enterprising persons are endeavouring to form a fashionable village on the western slope of the hill. Villas are built, and roads formed, with walks and seats, on that side of the hills. To those who wish for real retirement, the spot has much to recommend it, and certainly the scenery is more picturesque even than on the Malvern side.

Within the last few years several new roads have been formed in Great Malvern. The Graham Road, with its numerous pretty residences on either hand, is comparatively new; and parallel with it run the Victoria and Albert Roads, which are being gradually built upon, and which extend the walks and drives in that direction, and afford

many exquisite views of the church and hills. There are also several new roads east of the church upon land purchased and laid out by the Malvern Hotel Company, the chief of which is Avenue Road, leading direct to the Railway Station. The chief increase of building has been from the Priory Gateway, through Southfield. In this district stand the Abbey Hotel and Boardinghouse, a fine Tudor building, close to the church; the private residences and establishments of Dr. Wilson, Dr. Gully, Dr. Marsden, Dr. Grindrod and Dr. Johnson, the eminent hydropathic and homœopathic physicians, with many elegant private residences and commodious dwellings, chiefly devoted to the comfort and accommodation of visitors. There are two very excellent first-class hotels, the 'Royal and Foley Arms Hotel," and the "Belle Vue," which are generally crowded with persons of rank and fashion during the season. At the end of the Graham Road, and forming an excellent termination to Church Street, is the Beauchamp Hotel, a good family and commercial house. At the time we write two large hotels are building, one at Malvern Link, close to the Station, the other at Great Malvern Station; both the property of a limited liability company, composed chiefly of persons connected with the railway. Not far from the Beauchamp Hotel, pleasantly situated on the upper side of the Graham Road, is the Montrose Boarding-house, which, together with

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