SUB-RECENT MARINE BEDS. 67 



the large pits a little south-east of Vedanattam in which the stone 

 is extensively quarried. A few small pits along the road running 

 southward from the village and a few flat outcrops (bed surfaces) 

 where the cotton soil has been denuded away are the only other sections 

 by which to study this grit. As seen in the great quarry at Veda- 

 nattam, the beds which roll about slightly consist of fine or coarse gritty 

 calcareous sandstone of pale whitish or pinkish-brown colour and showing 

 here and there " false bedding.'^ Marine shells and Balani are not un- 

 common and are well preserved, but difficult to extract unbroken. Many 

 of the shells were broken before being imbedded. Much of the stone, 

 which is very well adapted for building purposes, is carried toTutikoriu, 

 The second occurrence of a rock referable to the recent marine series to 



the northward of the Tambraparni river was noted 

 Melainandai sectiou, 



a few hundred yards south-west of Velayudapuram, 



a small hamlet 1^ miles south-west of Melamandai (Mailmuntha). Here 



a few square feet of brown gritty calcareous sandstone are badly exposed 



in a small roadside pit. No traces of fossils were seen in this case. 



Continuing to follow the marine beds in a north-easterly direction, 



Sections in Madura ^^^ succession in which they were really worked 



^^^*'^''°*^- out, we now pass out of Tmnevelly into the Ram- 



nad zemindari which form the south-eastern portion of the Madura 



district. The first outcrop of the marine beds met with in the Ramnad 



. „ , . territory is immediately south of the ford over 



Gund-Ar ford section. 



the Gund-Ar (Coond Aur) and on the right bank 

 of the river. Here a low cliff has been formed by the river cutting 

 into a bed of rather soft gritty sandstone abounding in fossil shells, 

 all of living species. The sandstone is exposed for about 300 yards to a 

 depth of from 10 to 12 feet. The base of the section is hidden by 

 the water or very recent alluvium. The following list of fossil shells 

 includes all that I was able to collect : — 



Terebralia telescopium. 

 Pyrazus palustris. 

 Cuma sacellum. 

 Eburua, sp. 



Area, 3 sp. 

 Cardita antiquata. 

 Venus scabra. 

 „ squamosa. 



( 67 ) 



