A HISTORY OF SUFFOLK 



The newer division, termed the Butleyan, and known to all col- 

 lectors in the well-known pit near the Butley Oyster Inn, is characterized 

 as the zone of Cardium grosnlandicum, and is recognized by Mr. Harmer 

 in the cliff at Bawdsey, where the Red Crag overlies the London Clay ; 

 also in pits at Alderton, Hollesley, Boyton, Chillesford, Sudbourne and 

 Iken. 



The characteristic fossils of the Red Crag are Neptiwea {T'rophon) 

 antiqua, N. contraria. Purpura lapillus, Natica (several species), Cassidaria 

 bicatenata, Nassa (several species), T'urritella incrassata, Tellina obliqua, T'. 

 prcetenuis, Mactra ovalis, M. constricta, Cardium angustatum, Pectunculus 

 glycimeris, Scrobicularia plana (in upper beds), Pecten opercularis, Mytilus, 

 My a, etc. 



The basement bed, to which reference has previously been made, 

 is of considerable interest, as it contains many bones as well as other 

 fossils, and masses of hardened clay or septaria from the London Clay, 

 all rolled and phosphatized, and known commercially as ' coprolites.' 

 The bed is from 6 inches to about 3 feet thick, and the phosphatic 

 nodules or coprolites, which are occasionally dispersed through the 

 formation, have been extensively dug since the middle of last century. 

 In 1847 about 500 tons were raised, in 1854 12,000 tons, in 1889 

 5,000 tons, since which date the trade has gradually declined, and was 

 finally abandoned owing to the introduction of foreign phosphates. 



Attention was first directed to the nodules by the Rev. J. S. 

 Henslow,' for many years rector of Hitcham, who in 1842 observed 

 the curious nodules in the Red Crag at Felixstow, and afterwards found 

 some which were clearly coprolites. They have been found to yield 

 from 44 to 60 per cent, of phosphate of lime ; and have been worked 

 at Walton, Trimley, Falkenham, Foxhall, Bawdsey, Ramsholt, Shottis- 

 ham, Sutton and Boyton.'^ 



Many vertebrate remains have been obtained from the coprolite 

 bed, and notable collections have been made by the Rev. H. Canham 

 of Waldringfield, Messrs. Whincopp and J. Baker of Woodbridge, and 

 Mr. E. Cavell of Saxmundham. Among the remains there occur the 

 ribs and ear-bones (cetotolites) of whales, bones and teeth of mastodon, 

 rhinoceros, tapir, hyaena, etc. 



NORWICH CRAG 



To the north of Aldeburgh the place of the Red Crag appears to 

 be occupied by the Norwich Crag. The Crag loses its markedly red 

 colour, and the abundant fossils indicate somewhat more boreal condi- 

 tions. Whether the whole of the Norwich Crag is newer than any 

 portion of the Red Crag may reasonably be doubted ; indeed, the 

 generally accepted view that the upper part of the Red Crag, which 

 is sometimes termed the Scrobicularia Crag, is equivalent to the lower 

 part of the Norwich Crag, has much evidence in support of it. This 



' Proc. Geo!. Soc. iv. 281. 



' Reid, ' Pliocene Deposits of Britain,' p. 6. 



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