164 GEOLOGY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 



Christchurch Bay. — Christchurch Bay is a 

 semi-elliptical excavation, about eleven miles long, 

 formed b) r the action of the sea on the Hampshire 

 coast, which is here composed of an extension of 

 the eocene strata of the north-west part of the Isle 

 of Wight ; the two portions being now separated 

 by the British Channel, which flows into the 

 Solent Sea. The westernmost point of the bay, 

 is Hengisibury Head, near Christchurch ; the 

 easternmost, is the bar of shingle on which Hurst 

 Castle is situated. Along the line of coast bound- 

 ing the bay, there are several places in which sec- 

 tions both of the marine and freshwater strata are 

 exposed ; and Hordle, or Hordwell Cliff, near the 

 little village of that name, has long been known as 

 an inexhaustible mine of fossil relics. So long 

 since as 17(56, a quarto work was published in 

 illustration of the organic remains of this locality, 

 with engravings, which, for accuracy and artistic 

 skill, far surpass most of the modern figures of 

 objects of this kind,* 



Hordwell is about midway between Lymington 

 and Christchurch ; but from Yarmouth, in fine 



and tooth, they might meet with; some future visitor will, perhaps, reap the 

 benefit of tin- suggestion. 



• " Fossilia Hantoniensia collecta et in Musaco Britannioo deposits, a 

 Gustavo Brander, Londini, 1766." " Hampshire Fossils," &c, with nine 

 plates, containing 131 figun 



