440 Mark W. Norman — The Lower Cretaceous Beds, 



certain number of them are explainable on no other hypothesis than 

 one which we derive from them by induction, we hold that until facts 

 are forthcoming inconsistent with it, we are bound to receive it, 

 however many cherished prejudices have to go to the wall in con- 

 sequence. 



{To be continued in our next Number.') 



II. — The Chlokitic Marl and Upper Greensand of the Isle of 



"Wight. 



By Mark "W. Normajs-, of Ventnor. 



(PLATE X.) 



T will no doubt be remembered by some that as far back as the 

 year 1858, in " The Geologist," Vol. I. pp. 480 and 609, I pub- 

 lished a paper upon the Chloritic and Fossiliferous Marls, with 

 some remarks on the Upper Greensand, of the Isle of Wight, my 

 object being to point out the difference between these deposits, and 

 their organic remains, with the view to their separation ; stating as 

 a reason that the fossils and deposits of the upper beds which inter- 

 vene between the Chalk and the Upper Greensand wei'e a distinct 

 formation, and contained distinct fossils from those of the beds below. 



But like much that has been written upon the subject, both before 

 and since, the paj)er was no doubt defective, especially in the nomen- 

 clature of the fossils. Still, the main facts remained. 



But little, if any, interest was taken in the matter at the time, 

 and I therefore concluded that the subject had been disposed of by 

 the eminent authorities who had gone over the ground before. It 

 appears that this was not the case, however, as the visit some time 

 ago by a French geologist (M. Barrois) to the Island has led to 

 inquiry, and some controversy, and it now appears that little or no 

 attempt had been made (with but one single exception), with the 

 view of ascertaining the changes in the deposits at different heights, 

 and the horizontal range of their fossil contents. 



Having had some little experience during the many years in 

 which I have been working on the geology of this district, with 

 diffidence I now venture to ofi'er a few facts in addition to and 

 including those which I published in 1858. 



For this purpose I have carefully measured the strata as a whole, 

 and for convenience have divided the series into four divisions, and 

 separated the fossils found in each division. In the description of 

 tlie strata I have again divided them into sections, as will be seen 

 by the accompanying Diagram (Plate X.). 



First Division. 



With respect to the lower fifty feet of grey micaceous sand and 

 clay, locally termed " rubble Gault," after a careful examination of 

 it at different heights from the Gault proper, I found no fossils 

 which could be identified. All that could be detected were some 

 fragments of shells scattered through the upper portion, which were 

 in such a friable state as to be quite untransportable. 



I therefore propose to take as a basis a bed of what appears to be 



