1856,] BECKLES-^ HASTINGS CLIFFS, 291 



east and west, and thin away at the extremities of the arch, where 

 the ironstone and sandstone may be seen in contact. At that point, 

 between Lee Ness and Hook's Point,^ where the elevation of these 

 strata is greatest, the height from the beach to the top of the 

 sandstone is more than 30 feet, and to the top of the ironstone more 

 than 50 feet. It may be further remarked, that these strata are the 

 only members of the series that seem to extend uninterruptedly 

 through the entire section from Hastings to ClifiF End, 



Organic Remains. — The organic contents of the strata above- 

 described all indicate their deposition in fresh water ; but many of 

 them differ specifically from the Weal den fossils hitherto known. 

 It may be well to observe, with reference to the distribution of 

 UnionidcE in the Wealden strata, that, although interesting as 

 affording additional evidence of the fluviatile or lacustrine origin of 

 the formation, yet the species, and even the individuals hitherto 

 discovered, were few in number and scarcely available as stratigra- 

 phical indices. I have now found these fossils, however, in consi- 

 derable numbers in the Hastings rocks, where they afford good cha- 

 racteristics for certain strata. While those fossils of the Wealden 

 which are of terrestrial origin are distributed promiscuously through 

 the strata, the TJnionidce, like other Testacea which are indigenous 

 to the element in which they were included (and which do not, like 

 Fish, enjoy a great power of locomotion), occur for the most part in 

 groups, each species being confined almost universally to one stratum 

 or set of strata. 



The superior members of the group, or the conglomeratic shale 

 and ironstone (m, m, of the section, p. 290), contain Cyrencp^ UnionidcB, 

 Insects*, and bones of Saurians. The ironstone abounds with vege- 

 table remains t, for the most part in a fragmentary condition : from 

 some parts of the deposit, however, I have taken very fine specimens, 

 and others that are rare and valuable. 



From the sandstone below (n of the Section, and No. 1 of the 

 list at p. 290), I have taken small varieties of Unto ; but, like the 

 majority of fossils enclosed in the arenaceous deposits of the Wealden, 

 they are badly preserved, and in only one or two instances have I 

 secured instructive specimens. The most interesting traces of organic 

 existence are the casts of Foot-prints, which occur in relief on its 

 under surface, and which have formed the subject of my former com- 

 munication in the tenth volume of the Society's Journal (p. 456). 



The stratum, however, that I have found most interesting with 

 reference to its organic remains is perhaps the next below (No. 2 of 

 the list at p. 290). The Zamia occurs here in finer condition than 

 I have seen it from any other part of the Wealden of England. In 

 the same bed at least two other plants are deposited ; together with 

 a large Anodon (?) and a small Paludina (?) ; as well as small copro- 

 litic bodies of only occasional occurrence. The Univalve occurs so 



* See Notice of the Insectiferous Strata at Hastings by Messrs. Binfield, Quart. 

 Journ. Geol. Soc. vol. x. p. 171. 



t I have also detected fossil gum in a carbonaceous deposit much higher in the 

 series. 



