THE ALUM BAY LEAF-BED. 815 
The occurrence of these plant-remains was first observed by the 
Geological Survey in 1853, and since then one or two collections have 
been made. 
Dr. P. de la Harpe, of Lausanne, examined these, and gave a notice 
of several species in a paper on the “ Flore tertiaire de l'Angleterre," 
which appeared in the “ Bulletin de la Société Vaudoise des Sciences 
Naturelles " for June, 1856. In December, 1860, in conjunction with 
Mr. J Salter, F.G.S., he prepared the list which is published in 
the memoir of the Geological Survey of the Isle of Wight. 
This list includes the collections from ** the same strata worked at 
Bournemouth and Corfe Castle, in Purbeck, Dorset ; yet for the com- 
pilation of it the total number of specimens that could then be brought 
together from the three localities was but about 300. 
It is therefore no matter of surprise that in larger collections since 
made, many fresh forms are met with. 
At the last meeting at Birmingham, I exhibited drawings of some 
few of the most striking new forms, and mentioned that both Dr. P. 
de la Harpe and Dr. Oswald Heer urged the importance of a more 
careful examination of the bud. 
A committee for this purpose was appointed, and the sum of £20 
was plaeed at our disposal. "Through the kindness of Professor Sedg- 
wick and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, we 
obtained the services of Mr. H. Keeping, now at the Woodwardian 
Museum, who has had much experience in the working of this bed. 
I went down to Alum Bay last September with Mr. Keeping, and 
remained there during the working: to note the appearance of the leaves 
when first turned u 
In the majority of instances not only the outline but the venation, 
even the most delicate, is at first clearly visible, though a few hours’ 
exposure to the air almost obliterates the more delicate marks. A 
washing with a solution of isinglass often preserves them,—indeed, in 
some instances, brings them out even more sharply,—but unfortunately 
it often fails. There are some specimens on which I partly traced the 
venation with pencil as soon as they were exposed. Now, after an 
interval of ten months, they are so faded that the part not pencilled is 
hardly, if at all, to be made out. It is much to be regretted that there 
is a difficulty in preserving the specimens, and we shall be very glad 
to receive suggestions for their treatment. All our specimens have had 
