“The principal mass of these (trap rocks) occurs in the southern part of the county, overlying the coal-field which surrounds the town of Dudley. It there constitutes the material of a group of hills, beginning on the S. of that town, and terminating about half-way between Halesowen and Oldbury, a little beyond the village of Rowley. These hills consist of very pure basalt, which in the neighbourhood of Birmingham is called Rowley rag, because the village of Rowley is situated on one of these basalt hills; and this hill appears to the eye to be the highest of the whole range. These hills are all covered with soil; but quarries have been opened in many of them, and the basalt of which they are composed is employed for mending the roads. The streets of Birmingham are likewise paved with it. The columnar structure, though very frequent, is far from universal in this trap, which very commonly occurs in large spherical masses, decomposing on the surface into concentric layers. An amygdaloidal variety containing calcareous spar and zeolite occurs S. of Dudley. The highest point of the Rowley Hills is stated by Dr. Thompson to be 900 feet above the Thames at Brentford.”—CONYBEARE AND PHILLIPS’S _Geology of England and Wales_. Passing through a cutting of considerable depth, we arrive at Willenhall Station. Distance to Birmingham, 12—Liverpool and Manchester, 85½ miles. DISTANCES BY ROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES:— _Places W. of Station_. _Places E. of Station_. Bilston 1½ mile Bloxwich 3 miles. Sedgley 4¼ miles Pelsall 4¾ — Lower Gornal 5¾ — Himley 7¼ — THE small town of Willenhall, at the period of the Norman survey, was called _Winehala_, the Saxon term for victory, probably from the great battle fought near it in 311. The village began to flourish in the reign of Elizabeth, when the iron manufacture was first established here: at present, it is noted for its collieries and flourishing trade in locks, and other articles of hardware. Population, about 5,900. [Picture: Wednesfield Tunnel] Nothing of particular interest occurs on either side of the line, till, in approaching the long Wednesfield tunnel, the geological traveller will observe the remarkable section formed by the excavation through the outcropping beds of coal, which in this part rise at a great angle towards the surface, and are worked in the neighbourhood by open cuttings. The complete change which this abrupt ending of the coal-field causes in the aspect of the country is very singular. On one side all is black and murky; on the other, green and bright. * * * * *