24 THE PURBECK SOCIETY. 



These might be again sub-divided. And I recommend that each 

 of these separate classes should be under the immediate manage- 

 ment of a special member of the committee, whose business it 

 should be to arrange the information and papers received from 

 the members of the Society, so that the whole labour should not 

 fall on the Secretary alone: and in the same way I recommend 

 the division of the Island into four parts, viz : by the Chalk hill 

 which runs from Handfast Point to Worbarrow Bay, and the 

 High road from Wareham through Corfe, and Kingstone, and 

 thence to Chapman's Pool. These might also be sub-divided; 

 but in each division there should be one member who would con- 

 fine his more especial attention to it, so that the work may go on 

 steadily, and no part be neglected. 



In speaking of the Geology of the Island, I feel some hesitation 

 in referring the Society to my own Publication, as a guide to the 

 Strata. It was however, published as a text-book for strangers 

 to the localities which it attempts to describe, at the commence- 

 ment of their geological labours, an assistance, of which I myself 

 so much felt the need in my early visits to Durdlestone Bay : I 

 believe I may state, that it is sufficient for the purpose, and the 

 circumstance that the list of beds which it contains, and which 

 constitutes its chief usefulness, have been referred to by 

 Professor Owen and others, in their papers now published in 

 the Journal of the Geological Society, renders it almost necessary 

 that its numbers should be continued in all Purbeck collections, 

 to avoid that unhappy confusion being produced, which must be 

 caused by a multiplicity of names being attached to one object. 

 In working out the beds in Durdlestone bay, some discrepancy 

 wiU occasionally be found to exist between their actual measure- 

 ments, and those given. This arises from the difference in the 

 thickness of these beds, which, for the most part, thin out 

 towards the west, and the face of the cliff also changes frequent- 

 ly ; a portion being exposed to view at one time, which the next 

 season may be hidden by debris. The measurements alluded to 

 were taken at the spots at which each bed rises from the beach- 

 I think, if the most remarkable beds are first ascertained, there 

 will be found no difficulty in distinguisliing the whole. But I 

 wish the society to understand that, because they have this 

 simple guide in their hands, they must, not conclude that there 

 is nothing more to be done. It is only the foundation upon 

 which they have to work ; and this applies more especially tO' 



