518 EEPORT— 1882. 



OsBOENE Series betaveen St. Helen's and Rtde. 



Between Brading Harbour and Rj'de, sections occur, and on shore are seen the 

 rocky ledges below Seafield, and from St. Helen's to Nettlestone. At Watchhouse 

 Point, below St. Helen's, the Bembridge limestone forms an extensive arcli. 



Flttvio-maeine Series. 



Of the fluvio-marine strata of the Isle of Wight, the Bemhridge series is by far 

 the most constant in lithological characters. The lower part is calcareous (marine 

 and freshwater). The upper part (largest) consists of alternations of marls and 

 laminated clays. 



By far the larger portion of the Tertiary surface of the Isle of Wight is occupied 

 by the beds of the Bembridge series, which overlies the Headon Hill group. Stra- 

 tigraphically, or in a scientific point of view, they possess high interest, being 

 representatives of extensive continental fortnations, through whicli we are enabled 

 to correlate or at least throw considerable light on the classification of foreign 

 Tertiary strata. 



Through these Bembridge strata we are also made acquainted with and acquire 

 much information respecting the terrestrial fauna of our own area during the later 

 portion of the Eocene epoch. 



Palneontologically, the Upper Bembridge marls are characterised by the abundance 

 of Melania turritissima . These marls are finely shown in Whitecliff Bay, on the 

 shore at Hempstead, and at Thorness, containing Cyrena pulchra. 



The upper beds of the second group are exposed in the clearest manner through 

 fine sections at the same places, and also at, or near Brading harbour, below St, 

 Helen's. Remains of Trionyx, or the fresh-water tortoise, large Cerithia (C. variabile), 

 and Cyrena pulchra characterise these beds. 



Tlie third group, or the Bembridge oyster-beds, forms a narrow but constant 

 band between tlie marls and the limestones. Marine conditions set in here, 

 characterised by the abundance ofOstren vectensis,Kucula similis,Cytherea incrassata, 

 Mytihis, and Cerithimn. These beds were long mistaken for the ' upper marine' or 

 Middle Headon strata. At Whiteclifl" Bay and Brading harbour this group may 

 be advantageously studied. 



The fourth subdivision, or Bembridge limestone, includes those beds exhibited 

 at Binsted, Cowes, Calbourn, and Sconce (but not the limestones of the Headon 

 series). It is important to remember this when correlating the British Upper Eocene 

 deposits with those of the Continent. 



This remarkable limestone in Whiteclijf Bay forms a conspicuous feature in the 

 cliifs ; it is also the marked feature at Bembridge ledge. When closely inspected 

 it is found to be composed of a number of distinct beds or strata. In ascending 

 order we readily recognise se\'en divisions, each characterised by freshwater moUusca 

 and some few land plants. 



Bed No. 1. Concretionary limestone containing the fresh-water plant Chara 

 tuherculata, with Lymntea lonyiscata. 

 „ 2. Greenish marly clay, Lym. lonyiscata and Planorbis. 

 „ 3. Compact creamj-yellow limestone, Lym. lonyiscata and Planorbis 



oligyratus. 

 „ 4. Pale marly limestone, compact in places, full of Pa/M</«n« //ZoJit/o/rfes, 



Lym. lonyiscata, Hydrobia, and Cyclostoma mumia. 

 „ 5. Greenish-white limestone, concretionary and fossiliferous, containing 

 Lym. lonyiscata, Planorbis discus, P. rotundatus, P. Soiverbyii, P. 

 obtusas, Helix occiusa. Helix labryrinthica. 

 f, 6. Crumbly white marl, with globular concretions, Chara tuherculata, 



Planorbis obtusus. 

 „ 7. A similar bed to G, with Planorbis discus. The whole about 25 

 feet thick. 

 The strata along the coast and sections are in many places beautifully shown, 

 and present peculiarities not elsewhere seen in the island. 



