142 On some of the Strata in the Neigkl our hood of London, 



out of some of the more ancient strata, and lodged by ac* 

 cident in the bed where they were found*. 



The quantity of fruit or ligneous seed-vessels and berries, 

 which has been found in this stratum at Shepey, is pro- 

 <ligious. Mr. Francis Crow, of Feversham, has procured 

 from this fertile spot a very large collection ; and by care- 

 fully comparing each individual specimen ly their internal 

 as well as their external appearance, he has been enabled ta 

 select seven hundred specimens, none of which are dupli- 

 cates, and very few agree with any known seed-vessels. 

 These vegetable remains have also been found on the oppo- 

 site Essex shore, but in very small numbers. They have 

 also been met with in that part of the stratum which has 

 been examined at Kew. At Highgate and at Shepey a re- 

 sinous matter, highly inflammable, of a darkisii-brown co- 

 lour, and yielding, on friction, a peculiar odour, has also 

 been found. This substance has been conjectured to exist 

 in an unaltered state, and this indeed seems to be the fact 

 from its resinous fracture ; but it must be observed, on the 

 other hand, that pieces of it occur which are penetrated by 

 iron pyrites. 



This stratum is also rendered exceedingly interesting by 

 its surface appearing to have been the residence of land 

 animals, not a single vestige of which seems to have liceii 

 found in anv of the inmierous subjacent strata of the British 

 series. IVlr. Jacobs relates that the remains of an elephant 

 ■were found at Shepey. The reniains of the clephavt, stag, 

 and hippopotamus have also been dug up at Kew. At Walton 

 in Essex, not only the remains of the elephant, stag, and 

 hippopotamiis have been discovered, but also remains of the 

 rhinoceros, and of the Irish fossil elk. Org. Rem. vol. iii. 

 p. 366. 



It has been generally supposi-d that these remains were 

 contained within the stratum of blue clay ; but the cir- 

 cumstances under which thev aie found seem rather to 

 warrant the conclusion, that they were deposited on the 

 surface of those low spots where abruptions of the su- 

 perior part of this stratum had taken place. Thus the re- 

 mains of the elephant mentioned by Mr. Jacobs were not 

 in the cliff, but in a low situation at a distance from it: so 



* It appears to l)C necessary to guard against two sources of error whilst 

 appropriating fossilb to their respective strata : one is the circumstance here 

 alluded to, where the fossils of a preexistent stratum have been washed out 

 by the waters while deposit ii g a more recent stratum: the other is where, at 

 the )inf of junction of two strata, the animals of the one are found withia 

 the borders of the other stratum; a circumstance by no means difficu!: to 

 be coii'civcd or exphiii.id. 



also 



