Dr. FiTTON on the Strata below the Chalk. J 93 



ing with those on the south of it. The occurrence of such faults is highly probable, from the proxi- 

 mity of tliis place to the great displacement in the central ridge of the island*. 



Hence to the end of this cliff, in Sandown Bay, the beds rise more rapidly than in the preceding 

 part of the section, from Bonchurch ; and the order, in Sir John Herschel's sketch, beginning 

 at the fissure, is as follows : 



B. From the fissure to the middle of Sandown Bay. 



Paces. 



— 580. The cliff, about 100 feet high, which forms the north side of the fissure, consists of three 

 portions. 



1. Bri<Tht yellow sand, which goes out at 400, perhaps a continuation of e, last page? : 



2. Deep muddy green, almost black sand or silt, (perhaps a continuation of/?) going out at top 

 about 580. The beds 1 & 2, together, occupy about a fourth of the cliff, at the upper part. 



3. A thick stratum of sand of various hues, cut off by the fissure on the south, but occupying 

 the shore thence to about 600 : the bottom rising rapidly, and going out near 1400 at the 

 top of the cliff, which is there about 110 feet high. This stratum is subdivided thus: — 



a. Sand, dark red and dull brown, with a 

 greenish tinge ; entirely cut off by the fis- 

 sure, not coming down to the shore. 



b. A thicker bed of sand ; at the bottom dull 

 greenish and dark grey, — but, as it rises, 

 of a vivid yellow, in some places tinged 



with red. Dip, about 3° at the bottom, 

 about 2° at top. Contains Gryphcea si- 

 nuata in great numbers. 

 Vivid yellow sand, harder than a and h ; 

 rising on the shore at 420, and extending 

 thence to 580. Dip, 3°. 



580 — 1100. A great bed of sand, dull dark grey on the shore, but at the upper part lighter, and 

 near its disappearance bright yellow. This bed is much subdivided as it ascends ; the lowest 

 subdivision consists of transversely disposed layers {false stratification), on which those above 

 rest unconformably, indicating either an inclined beach or some peculiarity of deposition. Goes 

 out at top at 1750. 



1100 — 1268. Sand; grey at the bottom of the cliff, bright yellow at top. Goes out about 1780. 



1268 — 2000. A very thick bed or group, consisting of sand, and very sandy clay or silt. Goes out 

 at top, about 2150. 



1268 — 1630. A very dark sand or silt, of a deep dirty green, or almost black colour. 



1500. Dark arenaceous clay, with yellow and green efflorescence. Dip, 5"— 10°. 

 [The cliff, from 1780, northwards, declines rapidly in height.] 



2000. Sand, luteous yellow, without cohesion. 



2000 — 2160. A clayey sand, or rather arenaceous clay, — dirty brown silt; yellow at the upper 

 part : about 20 feet thick. The bottom goes out, at the top of the declining cliff, about 2270. 



2160—2300. Yellow sand. 



2300. Dull yellowish sand, with thin blackish layers. Apparent dip, about 25°. 



2350. Bright yellow sand. 



2400. The coast bank is of sand, 15 or 20 feet high. The cliff ends here, and the flat begins. 

 A low sand-hill commences about 2436. (Quce. loose blown sand?) 



* My own section, however, ascribes the more rapid rise of the beds on the north of the 

 prominence at Little-stairs Point, to the change in the direction of the shore ; which brings the 

 face of the cliff more nearly into the line of the greatest inclination, and makes the dip appear 

 to be greater than before. 



2c2 



