200 



almost composed of fossils, including Thetis minor, Rostellaria bica- 

 rinata, with several small univalves. Other masses, also of uncertain - 

 place, occur in the fuller's-earth, containing numerous Crustacean re- 

 mains, especially of Astacus, of more than one species. Pinna sulci- 

 fera abounds near the bottom of the lower bed, and Ammonites Des- 

 hayesii, w\.\h. other Ammonites, is frequent. 



§. From the preceding lists, it is evident that an accumulation of 

 fossils, very remarkable for their number and variety, exists at 

 Atherfield, in what has hitherto been considered as the bottom of 

 the lower greensand. But while some of these fossils have been 

 found, in England, only at Peasemarsh and at this place, they are 

 ' here accompanied by others, which have a considerable upward range 

 in the subcretaceous strata. 



§. The cliffs on the shore between Atherfield and Rocken End, on 

 the east of which latter place the lower greensand first rises, contain 

 comparatively a much smaller number of fossils than the lowest 

 strata just mentioned. Those which are found here, occur chiefly in 

 concretions, due probably to the presence of the organized remains 

 which they include ; but lines of such nodules appear to be distri- 

 buted at intervals throughout the whole series, as far at least as the 

 middle of the cliff at Blackgang Chine. Of these ranges the follow- 

 ing are some of the most prominent, — 



a. A conspicuous group, composed of two parallel ranges of nodules, 

 rises on the shore about half a mile east of Atherfield point, and there 

 forms a slight prominence called " the Crackers," (from the sound 

 caused by the sea during rough weather beneath the undermined 

 cliffs). These nodules consist of a rough concretional calcareous 

 rock (like coarse Kentish rag), which includes in great numbers, 

 Gervillia aviculoides, Thetis minor in beautiful preservation : a pro- 

 fusion of TerebratulcB, especially T. sella. Ammonites Deshayesii, 

 Trigonia dcedalea, and other fossils ; — most of which, it is supposed, 

 occur also in the quarry-stone of Hythe. 



h. Exogyra sinuata, with some of the principal varieties of that 

 species figured by M, Leymerie, is of frequent occurrence, both in 

 detached clusters, and in somewhat continuous ranges, throughout 

 the cliffs between Atherfield and Blackgang Chine. 



c. Very large and beautiful specimens of Crioceras (Ancyloceras, 

 D'Orbigny), Scaphites, and Ammonites, have also been found in 

 the face of the cliffs, or within the Chines, on this part of the shore. 

 Of these, Crioceras Bowerbankii* was found in Ladder-chine; Sca- 

 phites gig as loose upon the shore, its precise situation not having 

 been ascertained f. 



§. The author points out, as deserving of especial notice, the rapid 

 and remarkable reduction in the proportion of calcareous matter in 

 the lower greensand of the Isle of Wight and of Surrey, when com- 



* Sowerby, Geol. Trans. 2nd Series, vol. v. 



f Some fine specimens of these large fossils are in the lawn of Capt. Peter- 

 son, near Blackgang Chine; in the museum of Mr. A. J. Hambrougb, at Steep- 

 hill Castle ; and in the splendid collection of Isle of Wight fossils, deposited 

 by Capt. Ibbetson in the museum of the Polytechnic Institution. 



