522 Suggestions as to collecting Fossil-leaves. 



when Fitzroy was Captain and Charles Darwin was Naturalist on 

 board. We wish the club all success. There is plenty of work in 

 their neighbourhood for them to do. 



EXPLOKATION OF THE LeAF-BBD OF THE LoWEK BaGSHOT SeRIES 



OF THE Hampshire Basin. — The following are the suggestions 

 which have been issued by the Committee appointed by the British 

 Association for the Advancement of Science to investigate the fossil 

 leaf-beds of the Lower Bagshot series of the Hampshire Basin. The 

 Committee consists of W. Stephen Mitchell, LL.B., F.G.S. (Sec.) ; 

 Professor J. Morris, F.Gf.S., University College, London ; George 

 Maw, Esq., F.L.S., F.C.S. ; Eobert Etheridge, Esq., F.R.S.E., F.G.S., 

 Eoyal School of Mines, Jermyn Street ; Henry Woodward, Esq., 

 F.G.S., F.Z.S., British Museum :— 



The Committee desire to obtain the co-operation of gentlemen 

 interested in local geology who reside in the districts of Hampshire 

 and Dorset, over which the Lower Bagshot beds extend. 



They will be glad to receive information of the occurrence of 

 fossil leaves, however fragmentary, from any new localities, e.g., the 

 neighbourhoods of Eomsey, Fordingbridge, Moreton, Wimborne, 

 Whitecliff Bay, etc. 



In the neighbourhoods of Bournemouth, Corfe, Studland, and 

 Alum Bay, etc., where they have already received valuable assist- 

 ance, they desire if possible to establish more systematic records. 

 As some guide to the kind of information wanted, they beg to invite 

 attention to the following suggestions : — 



The changing face of the cliffs near Bournemouth after storms and 

 heavy rains, and the extensive clay- workings in the Wareham district, 

 where the beds can be examined yard by yard, often present data 

 of importance which, unless observed and recorded at the time, may 

 be for ever lost. It is only by residents that these observations can 

 be systematically made. 



It is very desirable that records of the following should be pre- 

 served : — 



1. The occurrence of trunks or branches of trees. 



(a) Their locality. The bed in which they are found, and the 

 relation of the beds above and below. 



(This will be best recorded by a sketch of the section.) 



(6) Their coudition, position (horizontal or otherwise, and direc- 

 tion (with reference to the compass). 



(c) Their size. Whether bored by Teredo or not. Character, 

 size, direction, and position of the borings. 



{d) Sections for microscope where possible. 



2. The beds containing leaves. 



(a) Their number, thickness, and extent, and the directions in 



which they vary in thickness. 

 (h) The condition of the leaves, whether perfect, as if tranquilly 



deposited, or rolled and broken, as if water-borne from a 



distance. 

 (c) Flowers, fruits, seeds, and the fructification of ferns. 



