and the Fossil Remains near London, S53 



In atnother fossil of this stratum, a still more extraordinary devi- 

 ation exists. This fossil possesses the concamerations and the foli- 

 aceous sutures of the cornu ammohis ; but instead of being spirally 

 coiled, it has its ends turned towards each other, somewhat in the 

 form of a eanoe. This peculiar form has led to the placing of this 

 fossil, under a separate genus, which has been named Scaphites* 



Of the extent of this stratum no correct account has been given j 

 but there is sufficient reason for believing that it accompanies the 

 other chalk in its range through this island. It also appears that 

 its peculiar fossils exist in it at very considerable distances. Thus the 

 oval ammonite^ which is found in the Sussex hills, likewise occurs 

 in the hard chalk of Wiltshire ; and the scaphites^ another inhabitant 

 ef the Sussex hillsj has also been discovered in DorsetsMre. 



ON comparing the preceding sketch with the Essay on the Mine- 

 ralogical Geography of the Neighbourhood of Paris, by Messrs. 

 Cuvier and Brongniart, some important variations will be perceived 

 between the strata found abov€ the chalk in this island and in 

 France. In France, the strata above the chalk differ both in number 

 and quality from those which have been hitherto observed in * 

 similar situation in England. In France- too, several strata of sanA 

 and sandstones exist above the strata of the gravel formation, 

 which in this island appear to be highest. 



The first of these differences appears to result chiefly from the 

 existence of numerous beds or patches, the formation of which 

 must have depended on certain local circumstances, such as the 

 existence of fresh or salt water lakes, at the period of the drying 

 up of a former ocean ; the different chemical combinations which 

 might thence have taken place, &c. But the occurrence of such, 



♦ Organic Remains, Vol. III. PI. X. fig. 10 and 11. 



2y 



