540 Deposits in the Valley of the Tliames 



In the excavation* for the reservoir of the new water works 

 close to Kew bridge, similar strata were dug into, containing 

 bones of the elephant, ox, and deer, with some lignite, but 

 no shells were observed ; the thickness of the strata was about 

 fifteen feet, and reposed on the London clay, on the surface 

 of which were found two large boulders of druid sandstone. 



In the excavations for buildings in many parts of London 

 near the river, animal remains have been found ; as at Water- 

 loo Place, London Docks, Limehouse, Bethnal Green, &c. 



The next large deposit of animal remains occurs at Ilford, 

 in Essex, from whence an extensive collection has been ob- 

 tained by Mr. Gibson, of Stratford ; remains of the horse, ele- 

 phant, (a tusk, 12 ft. 6 in. long), rhinoceros, deer, and two 

 species of ox : the bones are found in every stage of growth, 

 rarely broken or much rolled, and shells occur in abundance, 

 a list of which, with the other localities, will be appended to 

 this paper. 



The physical character of the country between Stratford 

 and Ilford is rather level, gravel -pits being worked from about 

 twelve to twenty feet deep. It is here and there intersected 

 by streams on the Stratford side, flowing to the river Roding, 

 which runs at the entrance of Ilford, and empties itself into 

 the Thames at Barking Levels. There are three principal 

 brick-fields, the first, (Kilberton's), adjoining the river Roding; 

 the second, (Thomson's), a little beyond the first, about five 

 hundred yards from the river; and the third, (Curtis' s), is si- 

 tuate beyond the town on the left hand side of the road. The 

 strata of the three fields are nearly the same, merely varying 

 a little in thickness in each. The following is the average. 



Gravel and vegetable mould 4 to 6 feet. 



Brick earth with concretions 5 to 15 feet. 



Sand, greyish green and brown, with concretions. 



Bones and shells, round the bones more white and clay- 

 ey, 5 to 9 feet. 



A vein of brick earth 2 feet. 



Gravel and drift sand, loamy and bluish coloured, forming the base. 



Similar deposits occur at Wickham, in Kent, in a valley 

 opening to the river, and consisting of brick earth, sand, and 

 gravel, 25 feet thick, and containing remains of the horse, ox, 

 and deer. 



The deposit at Erith is situated to the south of the town, 

 extending nearly to Crayford, and averaging about 300 yards 

 wide. It reposes on the chalk, though sometimes separated 

 from it by a bed of coarse sand, containing rolled specimens 



* May, 1837. 



