THE ISLE OF WIGHT 



367 



able memoir by Mr. Prestwich.* As the editor has examined 

 and measured these beds with great 

 care, it affords him pleasure to confirm 

 that gentleman's accurate observa- 

 tions. In Dr. Mantell's beautiful ^ 

 work,t which should form the hand- 

 book of the student, an accurate 

 analysis is given of all that relates to 

 the geology of the Isle of Wight, and 

 the annexed diagram (Fig. 264) taken 

 from it, will render our outline of 

 Whitecliif Bay more inteUigible. This f 



section may be regarded as typical of 

 the British eocene, marine, estuary, 

 and lacustrine formations. The strata ! 



measure nearly two thousand feet in 3 f " 

 thickness, and are divisible into, 

 1. Marine series ; 2. Estuary series ; S 

 3. Freshwater series. L $ 



The beds incline at various angles z 

 from 2 to 90. Between the chalk I 

 of Culver Cliff and the clay is a thin g 

 seam of sand and chalk flints. This % 

 is overlaid by one hundred and forty "~ 

 feet of clays, beautifully mottled with g ? 

 red, green, brown, and puce colours, ^ I 

 which are seen to much perfection f 

 at low-water mark. No fossils have | 



been found therein. The next, or 

 lowest fossiliferous group, is the re- 



presentative of tlaeBognor beds; taken 

 collectively they measure about three 

 hundred and forty feet in thickness, 

 and abound with the same species of ^ 



shells that characterise the rocks of 

 Bognor, as Ditrupa, Venericardia, 

 Pectunculus, &c. The middle group, ^ 

 which succeeds, commences with a | 

 remarkable iron sandstone, which 



* Geological Journal, August, 1846. 

 Geological Excursions round the Isle of Wight, 1847. 



