23 
of only seven miles, are of a distinct character from those of Selsey and 
Bracklesham Bay. ‘The Venericardia planicosta and the Nummularia 
levigata, so abundant at Bracklesham, are not found at Bognor; but 
this will be more particularly noticed when speaking of that deposit. 
At Barton, a distance of little more than thirty miles, there are no 
Venericardie planicoste or V. acuticoste, though some shells are found in 
both localities. The Cytherea suberycinoides is plentiful at Bracklesham, 
and only occasionally found at Barton. The Rostellaria macroptera 
and Lucina mitis are common at Barton, and very rare at Bracklesham. 
Crustaceans are abundant at Sheppey and Highgate, but rarely found 
at Bognor or Bracklesham. 
In drawing our conclusions from the genera of shells, of fishes, 
vegetable remains, and animals which are found in this immediate 
portion of the London clay, it would appear that the greatest number 
of shells are of those genera now found in shallow seas or estuaries. 
The fish are of a character frequently observed near the shore. The 
Siluride are found in lakes and rivers. The Myliobates are discovered 
in shallow sea-water. Crocodiles exist in estuaries, rivers and lakes : 
Boa Constrictors commonly lurk for their prey in or near fresh 
waters. A greater proportion of the earth was probably covered with 
fresh water during the Eocene period than at the present time. It is 
evident,— reasoning from the situations in which the recent types of 
most of these genera are observed, and the supposition that these dif- 
ferent creatures lived and died near the spot where their remains are 
discovered,—that the climate must have been during the Eocene period 
considerably warmer than at present. Some species of fruit would 
even indicate a tropical region*. 
* That France and England were united during the Eocene period is evident from the remains 
of the same fossil animals being found in each country ; we may also infer, that during the Mam- 
