CHAPTER III. 



FRESHWATER EOCENE STRATA OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT — QUARRIES 

 AT BINSTEAD — FOSSIL SKULL OF A REIN-DEER — EOCENE STRATA AT 

 BIXSTEAI) — FOSSIL CHARA — FOSSIL LAND AND RIVER SHELLS — 

 FOSSIL TURTLES — FOSSIL REMAINS OF EXTINCT MAMMALIA. 



Freshwater eocene strata. — The most remark- 

 able peculiarity in the eocene formation of the 

 Isle of Wight as compared with that of London, 

 consists in the lacustrine and fluviatile character 

 of the upper series of deposits, which are super- 

 imposed on marine strata identical with those of 

 the metropolis. For though in some localities 

 clays and sands containing marine and estuary 

 shells, alternate with marls and limestones abound- 

 ing in fluviatile species ; and in others the strata 

 are fluvio-marine, that is, contain an intermixture 

 of marine and freshwater shells ; yet throughout 

 a considerable thickness of deposits the organic 

 remains are entirely fluviatile and terrestrial. In 

 tli is respect the tertiary system of the Island cor- 

 responds with that of the Paris basin, which is 

 characterised by alternations of freshwater marls, 



