102 



does not as yet permit the author to assign to them a peculiar charac- 

 ter, nor has lie discovered in the fossil fish of strata below the green- 

 sand any differences corresponding with those now observed be- 

 tween marine and freshwater fish, so that he cannot, on ichthyo- 

 logical data, decide on tlie freshwater or marine origin of the an- 

 cient groups. 



This paper is accompanied by Tables of the fossil fish of different 

 formations. 



November 19th. — -A paper was first read, entitled " An Account 

 of the raised Beach, near Hope's Nose, in Devonshire, and other 

 recent Disturbances in that Neighbourhood," by Alfred Cloyne 

 Austen, Esq., F.G.S. 



The ancient beach near Hope's Nose, noticed by Mr. Greenough 

 in his geological map, is situated a little within the point of land so 

 called, and rests upon a mass of transition limestone containing thin 

 beds of shale. The distance between the ordinary line of high wa- 

 ter and the lowest part of the deposit, is about 31 feet: its extent 

 east and west is not more than 50 feet; and its thickness is 17 feet. 

 How far it extends inland cannot be easily determined, as it is co- 

 vered, in that direction, by an accumulation of detritus fallen from 

 the neighbouring hill. 



The deposit varies much in texture and composition. The lowest 

 portion is a coarse conglomerate, containing blocks of considerable 

 size ; above this the grain becomes finer and the remains of shells 

 of recent species, occur in greatest abundance. A little higher the 

 particles are still finer, forming an exceedingly hard and compact 

 stone, in which frequently the casts only of the shells are found. In 

 the upper portion the beds are less compact, and at the highest they 

 consist of uncemented sand, like that of a recent beach. The greater 

 part of the deposit is formed from grauwacke rocks, but fragments 

 of trap also occur, and in the lowest part chalk flints. On the 

 weathered surface, the harder beds project in thin shelves, but 

 which have sufficient strength to support a man. 



A deposit which encircles the Thatcher rock, about three quarters 

 ofamileS.S.W. of Hope's Nose, presents thesame characters. These 

 are the only instances which the author could discover of a raised 

 beach on this part of the coast. The preservation of the deposits, 

 he considers, is owing to their resting on masses of limestone, and 

 that the abrupt terminations which the beach at Hope's Nose 

 presents towards the east and west, are proofs that it was once more 

 extensive. 



The author premises his observations on the Watcombe fault by 

 stating, that any section of the new red sandstone of South Devon 

 will present innumerable lines of disturbance, and that attention to 

 these will show they have been the origin of the hills and valleys of 

 the district, though all superficial evidence of their existence has 

 been destroyed by their being rounded off. But in the neighbour- 

 hood of Babbacombe, he says, there are several faults which at first 

 sight offer a very different character. Of these he mentions two, 

 that at Watcombe and another west of Petit Tor rock. The first 



