360 G. W. Colenutt—On the Osborne Beds. 
bones of a small rodent (Theridomys) [rare]: a small snake vertebra 
was found among the crushed bones and also a jaw of Lepidosteus (2). 
In number 3 the most remarkable fossils are found in a hard, dark 
grey laminated clay, and consist of small exquisitely perfect teleostean 
fish, varying in length from three-quarters of an inch to three inches : 
also bones, scales, and vertebre of larger fish: crustaceans apparently 
allied to the shrimp or prawn and measuring from half an inch to 
two and a half inches in length [rare]: Cyprides: occasional masses 
of crushed Paludina lenta and Melanopsis carinata: a few scattered 
ganoid scales : and spines and bones of larger fish. 
In number 4 seams of compressed vegetable remains occur: a few 
leaflets of ferns [rare]: small carbonized seed vessels, with longitu- 
dinal striations (not yet identified) : a few small twigs of a Conifer : 
occasional masses of lignite: and detached fragments of turtle plates. 
In number 5 Paludina lenta and Melanopsis carinata occur 
abundantly in thin seams, but they are mostly in a crushed state. 
No other species of Mollusca have been observed. Vertebrze of large 
fish occur, especially in a thin seam of finely comminuted shells at 
the base of this division: teeth apparently of Alligator Hantoniensis 
are found in this division, but they are rare here; a few detached 
turtle plates are found, but they are not so ues met with here as in 
the clay a little higher up. 
In number 6 and in number 1 I have not been able to discover 
the existence of any organic remains at all. 
The strata have a very slight dip of about 5° or 6° to the south ; 
but this dip, close to the base of the cliff, is much increased—caused 
no doubt by the weight of the talus, which in wet weather is in a 
very soft and oozy state, and is always on the move down towards 
the shore. 
The beds above described occupy about the middle of the Osborne 
series, but the dark clay in which the small perfect fish occur is no 
doubt a local deposit, although it occurs at Binstead House, Ryde 
House, and at Sea View, as well as at Chapelcorner Copse. The 
distance is about 5} miles, as the crow flies, between the furthest 
outcrop of the fish clay to the west (at Chapelcorner Copse), and the 
furthest outcrop to the east (on the shore in the angle formed by the 
sea-wall immediately to the south-east of Sea View pier). Thus it 
will be seen that the deposit is of considerable extent, although it is 
no doubt correctly considered as local. 
Although I have at every opportunity made a most careful search, 
I have never been able to discover the presence of this clay at any 
of the other places in the island where the Osborne Beds are ex- 
posed. At Whitecliff Bay, where the Osborne Series is visible in 
its entirety, I have been unable to find any trace of the fish clay ; 
neither have I at Gurnard Bay, nor at any of the other sections in 
the West Medina. The shore sections between Ryde and Sea View 
are much obscured by the sea-wall which runs the entire distance, 
thus preventing any examination of the clays which would crop out 
along the beach and low cliffs. 
The small fossil fish from division 3 are most beautifully pre- 
