8 Introduction. 



Turtle, Cosmochelys dolloi, and a large carinate-bird with entirely new characters 

 to which the name of Gigantornis eaglesomei was given. Some primitive 

 characters in the Zeuglodont remains induced Dr. Andrews to " favour their 

 reference to the early part of the (Eocene) period." When studying the 

 Molluscan part of this collection 1 3 published a description of Raetomya, a 

 new genus of Pelecypoda, the type of which characterised the Bartonian or 

 Upper Mokattam deposits of Egypt. It was considered somewhat premature at 

 the time to refer the Nigerian deposits to any particular horizon of the Eocene 

 because a more detailed examination of the whole of the mollusca was 

 necessary before a properly conclusive statement could be made on the subject. 

 It was mentioned, however, that these fossiliferous rocks were of " a very 

 similar lithological facies which would suggest their reference to one distinct 

 series of beds, and which from their fauna would indicate an estuarine origin." 

 Following on this communication, Mr. Kitson 4 read a paper before the 

 Geological Society on the " Geology of Southern Nigeria," in which he 

 alluded to these particular deposits as " a series of Eocene estuarine shales, 

 clays and marls, with septarian nodules and pieces of coal and resin, and a 

 rich fauna consisting principally of Mollusca, but including fragmentary remains 

 of whales, birds, fishes and turtles." In the discussion on that paper I 4 

 again referred to the invertebrates of the Nigerian deposits, mentioning that 

 the Foraminifera, etc., had been determined by Mr. Heron- Allen who called 

 attention in his notes to the absence of Nummulites. Among a few corals 

 were identified Turbinolia, Oculina, etc., bearing the Lutetian facies, as also 

 a form of Hydr actinia ; Decapod claws, minute Ostracoda, and some small 

 Serpulae were also observed in the fauna. The Mollusca were stated to have 

 alliances which often extended throughout the Eocenes and occasionally to 

 recent seas, thus bearing a similarity to forms found in the Claiborne series 

 of the United States, the Mokattam beds of Egypt and the Middle Eocene 

 of Europe. One particular Gastropod determined as Vincent's Clinuropsis 

 diderrickihom the Paleocene deposits of the Belgian Congo showed considerable 

 resemblance to Surcula ingens (Mayer-Eymar) of the Upper Mokattam beds of 

 Egypt and hence it was considered that the Nigerian deposits should be 

 referred to the oldest Eocene and regarded as of Paleocene age. This view, 



