SOUTHAMPTON TO RYDE. 89 



terest.* At Stubbington, between four and five 

 miles west of Gosport, near which the line passes, 

 many interesting fossils have been obtained from 

 the tertiary clays and sands. -j- 



Southampton to Ryde. — The steamers from 

 Southampton to the Isle of Wight generally touch 

 at East Cowes, and proceed to Ryde ; those from 

 Portsmouth cross Sjrithead to the latter town, the 

 distance being scarcely five miles. In the former 

 route we pass down Southampton-water, an arm of 

 the sea which extends ten miles inland in a north- 

 westerly direction, and separates the eastern part 

 of the coast of Hampshire from the New Forest 

 on the west. The entrance of Southampton-water 

 is guarded on the west by Calshot Castle, which 

 was erected by Henry VIII. on the narrow slip of 

 land that here advances some little distance from 

 the line of coast* We now obtain a distinct 

 view of the north side of the " beautiful Island ;" 

 and as we approach the land, two parallel chains 

 of hills may be observed, stretching in a direction 

 east and west through the whole extent of the 

 landscape. The nearest range is of moderate 

 height, and slopes towards the shore ; the distant 



* Portsmouth and Gosport are built on eocene strata ; the wells penetrate 

 the London clay to the depth of from 200 to ouo feet. 



t Several species of shells, collected by Mr. Holloway, of Portsmouth, are 

 figured in "Sowerby's Mineral Conchology." 



