156 GEOLOGY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 



to the weather. Not very fossil if erous, but contained Limneea 

 lomjiscata, a lar^e full-bodied species, Hydrohia, and Chara 

 nucules {Chara Lyellii). This limestone may be seen opposite 

 the boathouse near Nettlestone, but as it is much carried away is 

 not evident except at a low water. It is the equivalent of the 

 band in the slope at Whitecliff Bay. 2 ft. 



10. Bright yellow and white marly clays, with patches of 

 greenish sand, filled with argillo-calcareous nodules of various 

 sizes. In these nodules the Melania excavata abounds. These 

 clays do not appear to exceed a thickness of 4 ft. 



11. Freestone or rag, with siliceous concretions passing into a 

 grit. A great part of this bed is made of comminuted univalves, 

 the fragments smaller and finer below. In the middle portion 

 occur bands of unbroken Pahidina lenta. This is the bed of 

 which portions are thrown up in the line of the fault below 

 Summerhouse Point, where it is very conglomeratic and includes 

 pebbles of flint. Similar pebbles are seen here and there in it at 

 Seafield. It is used for a building stone there, and for making 

 the groins on the shore east of Ryde. In these beds the casts of 

 Melania excavata occur in myriads, also Paludina lenta, Hydrobia^ 

 a short Melanopsis apparently M. brevis, Melanojjsis carinata^ 

 Planorbis rotundatus (scarce), Limnaa lonyiscata, and the short- 

 spired species, vertebrae of fish, and fragments of turtle. 8 ft. 



In a block in a neighbouring wall I observed impressions of a 

 small and peculiar Cerithium, and remains of a large shell, 

 apparently Achatina costellata. 



12. Softer and whiter sandstone, with frequent calcareous con- 

 cretionary bands, containing Limncea lonyiscata, and separated by 

 a thin layer of compact sandstone with impressions of Uaioy 

 form a compact flagstone with fucoidal impressions. 4 ft. 



13. Shelly sandstones, often studded with angular flints; 6 in. 



14. Soft calcareous stone, with Pahidina lenta ; 6 in. 



15. Flags of sandstone, with large ripple marks; 6 in." 



At Sea -View the fish-bed occurs at the base of the cliflf a short 

 distance east of the Pier, and as the Nettlestone Grits sink 

 beneath the sea-level close to the Pier, it is probable that the fish- 

 bed is in the clay at the base of Forbes' higher division, or 

 St. Helen's Sands. At this locality, as near Ryde House, ripple- 

 marked flags are found immediatly above it. 



At Priory (or Horestone) Point, thick-bedded sandstone (No. 1 1 

 of Professor Forbes' Nettlestone section) forms the base of the 

 cliff', containing in some parts bands of small rounded flint pebbles; 

 in others, layers of partially decomposed angular flints. The 

 upper part is fidl of broken shells, and patches of comminuted 

 shells occur about two feet from the top, which is calcareous, and 

 less hard than the lower portion of the bed. There are also 

 occasional fucoidal markings and large irregular concretions, 

 which, weathering unequally, cause the rock to assume a honey- 

 combed cavernous appearance. 



