STRATA OF TILGATE FOREST. 57 



It results from these observations, that the animals and vegetables of 

 the Tilgate strata, must have been overwhelmed by a fluid in a state of 

 violent commotion, since they are generally broken, and their fragments 

 promiscuously intermingled ; yet from the perfect manner in which the 

 teeth, scales, and other parts, are preserved in some examples, there is 

 reason to conclude, that the originals were not transported from a distant 

 country, but lived and died in the vicinity of the district, where their 

 remains are now entombed. 



In fact, the existence of dry land at no great distance, seems clearly 

 indicated by these remains of vegetables and amphibia ; some of the former 

 must have grown on the borders of a river or lake ; and the habits of the 

 recent species, most nearly related to the latter, warrant a similar conclu- 

 sion, since they are well known to frequent the rivers and marshy tracts 

 of tropical regions, in the sands and banks of which they deposit their 

 eggs. 



Reflecting upon these extraordinary facts, may we not inquire with the 

 illustrious Cuvier, " At what period was it, and under what circumsta7ices, 

 that turtles and gigantic crocodiles lived in our climate, and were shaded by 

 forests of palms, arid arborescent ferns f" 



On the Geological Position of the Strata in the Environs of 



Tilgate Forest. 



The geological position of these beds is involved in much obscurity, and 

 cannot at present be satisfactorily determined. The analogy which they 

 bear to those of Purbeck* is however so striking, that the mind naturally 



* The Purbeck beds occupy the highest place in the oolite series, and consist of thin 

 strata of argillaceous limestone, alternating with schistose marls, forming an aggregate of more 

 than 300 feet in thickness. 



The fossils of the Purbeck stone consist chiefly of shells, which are supposed to resemble 

 fresh water species, as the viviparcE, cyclostomcc, ■planorbes, &c. ; impressions of fish, bones, 



