534 Mr. Charlesworth on the Crag, and on ascertaining 
same period, from the number of fossils which are common to 
the two deposits, and this opinion he has subsequently con- 
firmed in the Anniversary Address recently delivered to the 
Fellows of the Geological Society. 
In a former memoir, when describing the stratum at Rams- 
holt, the opinion I stated was that it formed part of a de- 
posit, older, geologically speaking, than those shelly strata 
above it with which geologists were already familiar. Subse- 
quent consideration has tended to strengthen the views which 
I then advocated, and my object at present is that of testing 
the importance of those facts which are supposed by some to 
identify the coralline beds with the other fossiliferous strata. 
During the summer of 1835, I entered upon a more minute 
examination of those localities in which the inferior portion of 
the crag is most advantageously exposed, and my investiga- 
tion has been attended with results of a highly gratifying and 
satisfactory nature. I have procured from Ramsholt every 
species of coral that has yet been obtained from the more ex- 
tensive excavations at Aldborough and Orford; while above 
the coral reefs, which occupy so large a portion of the latter 
district, I have succeeded in discovering the upper deposit, 
still retaining those well-marked peculiarities which form a 
striking contrast to the inferior stratum, and from which even 
the yet unpractised observer would as naturally separate it as 
he would the beds of the coralline crag from the London clay 
on which they repose. My anticipations on this subject have 
therefore been completelyrealized, and the true geological posi- 
tion of the Orford crag may now be considered fully established. 
The relative position and lithological character of the red 
crag would during a late period of inquiry have probably as- 
signed it a distinct place in a geological series, and under some 
circumstances the geologist undoubtedly derives considerable 
assistance in the classification of fossiliferous deposits from a 
careful observation of these phenomena. To guide our deter- 
mination in the instance before us, in addition to these sources 
we have thrown open to our inspection an extensive series of 
organic remains; it is from their examination that my own 
opinions have principally been formed, and it now remains 
for me to show how far they can be justified. j 
With this view I shall take a cursory survey of the organic 
remains at present discovered in the tertiary strata which over- 
lie the London clay in Suffolk and the chalk in Norfolk. 
In the coralline crag we find few indications of the exist- 
ence of vertebrated animals; such as are met with belong ex- 
clusively to the class of Fish; but the nature of this deposit ap- 
pears to have been by no means well calculated for the pre- 
