F. ChapTnan — Eocene ForaTninifera. 555 



The fact that the Selsey specimens are found upon the present sea- 

 shore has induced some observers to assert that all the fractures have 

 been caused by wave-action on the shore, and that it is possible to 

 observe the process actually going on. The latter fact is not denied, 

 and indeed has been tested by experiment, but the fractures so 

 produced are quite distinct from those attributed to human agency. 

 It is also quite clear that wave-action on the present beach has 

 simply removed typical ' natural ' flakes, that is those which have 

 been caused by blows falling on an edge instead of at the side of it, 

 the former showing prominent ripple-marks owing to the blows being 

 oblique instead of vertical. These ' natural ' flakes are never very 

 large, and often cut deeply into the flint, developing into a ' step ' at 

 the end opposite to the point of impact. 



The alleged discovery of a rostro-carinate 'implement ' fixed in the 

 Eocene clay and in process of manufacture must, I think, be received 

 with very great caution, especially as it appears that the ventral plane, 

 from which the flakes are generally removed to form the carina, was 

 turned towards the shore, and therefore not exposed to the hypo- 

 thetical battering of the stones brought in by the sea. 



The small series of flints collected by Mr. Heron Allen shows 

 a fundamental di:fference, which is best explained by the diff'erence 

 known to exist between human and natural flaking, the presumed 

 implements being picked out with ease from others which are 

 obviously formed by natural agencies. Moreover, there appear to 

 be no transitional forms, the two series being sharply enough defined 

 for those familiar with the fracture of flint. The 'human' series 

 examined on this occasion contains no typical rostro-carinate 

 implements, and the superficial resemblance of others to that type 

 will not bear investigation. 



VI. — On some Foraminifera from the Eocene Beds of 

 Hengistbtjry Head, Hampshire. 



By Frederick Chapman, A.L.S., F.E.M.S., Palaeontologist to the National 

 Museum, Melbourne. 



IN the March Number of this Magazine Mr. Cowper Reed recorded 

 the interesting discovery of a series of fossils which points to 

 a Bartonian horizon for the Hengistbury ironstone. Upon reading 

 this paper I was reminded of some chocolate-coloured clays with 

 Foraminifera which I had collected from a seam between the ironstone 

 bands at Hengistbury Head in August, 1895. The washings from 

 these clays afforded abundant tests of arenaceous forms ; and since, 

 so far as I am aware, no Foraminifera have yet been recorded from 

 this locality, it may be of some interest to publish the results of an 

 examination of the material collected. 



From my notebook I find this sample, chocolate-coloured sandy 

 clay with glauconite, was collected between the two ironstone bands 

 on the west side of Hengistbury Head. No direct evidence could be 

 gathered from the present series as to relationship with the Fora- 

 minifera of the Barton or Bracklesham Beds, from both of which 



