252 Osborne and Bembridge Beds. 



numerous reptiles have also been found, including two 

 serpents Palceryx depressus, and P. rhombifer, Turtles, 

 and seven species of Trionyx ; Crocodilus toliapicus, 

 and Alligator Hantoniensis. Among the mammals of 

 the same beds have been found Palceotherium annectens, 

 a three-toed animal somewhat like a tapir ; Anoplo- 

 therium commune, having affinities both with pigs and 

 ruminants ; Chceropotamus Cuvieri, somewhat like the 

 river-hog ; Dichodon cuspidatus and Microchcerus eri- 

 naceus ; also a bird, Macrornis tanaupus. 



The Osborne Beds (fig. 47) succeed the Headon 

 series, and are well seen on the coast near Osborne, and 

 at Nettles! one in the Isle of Wight. Different sections 

 vary in lithological character, but they may be gene- 

 rally described as consisting of sands and clays, from 

 60 to 80 feet thick, containing fresh-water shells, such 

 as Cyrena obovata, Achatina costellata, Limncea lon- 

 giscata, Melania costata and excavata, Melanopsis 

 brevis, Paludina lenta in great numbers, first known 

 in the Woolwich and Eeading series, and P. globuloides, 

 Planorbis euomphalus. and five others, and a Unio. 

 Entomostraca (Crustacea) also occur, viz., Candona 

 Forbesii, Cyiheridea Mullerii, and Cythereis unisul- 

 cata, with fresh -water plants Char a Lyellii and C. 

 medicagulina. A land-shell, Helix occlusa, and a 

 Cerithium are also found, the latter of which may have 

 Kved in brackish water, but the general assemblage is 

 entirely fluviatile. 



The Bembridge Beds (fig. 47) overlie the Osborne 

 series in the Isle of Wight, and ' spread over the greater 

 portion of the surface of the island which is occupied 

 by Tertiary deposits.' They are fluvio-marine, and 

 consist at the base of soft cream-coloured fresh-water 

 limestone, sometimes 20 feet thick, overlaid by an Oys- 



