IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND FRANCE. 17 1. 



chalk rocks. The sand was not uniformly distributed through the mud, 

 as if the latter rested on a deposit of sand, or that currents brought 

 sand in from time to time. It also contained fragments of chalk flints, 

 bits of coal and cinders, probably part of the ashes, &c, thrown over 

 board by steamers, fragments of woody matter, twigs, reeds, and what 

 appeared to be Zostera marina. The interior of the moist mass was 

 very black from decomposing microscopic animal and vegetable matter. 

 Like most blue clays, it oxydized to a yellow colour when exposed in a 

 moist state to the sun and air. The fine mud is not calcareous. 



7. Hayling Island. — Sample of mud from Menghain By the. 

 Description. — Very similar to that from Cockle Rythe. It had less 



sand, however, and was more plastic. It contained fragments of plants 

 like reeds, and a species seemingly of Chordaria. The centre of the 

 mass was very black, from decomposing microscopic organisms. On ex- 

 posing the moist mass to sun and air, it oxydized and assumed a yellow 

 colour. The fine mud is not calcareous. 



8. Hayling Island. — Sample of mud from Langston Channel. 

 Description. — Blueish-black, and in the centre of mass intensely 



black, unctuous plastic clay, which oxydizes, and assumes a yellow 

 colour when exposed in a moist state to sun and air. It did not effer- 

 vesce with acid. When washed it left a small quantity of fine white 

 quartz sand. Bits of Zostera marina, fragments of apparently a Chordaria, 

 and fine root-like filaments. Abundant evidence of microscopic organisms. 



9. Hayling Island. — Sample of mud marked A 2 . 



Description. — Grayish blue, and in centre, black unctuous plastic clay, 

 which oxydizes, and assumes a yellow colour when exposed to the sun 

 and air. It gave, when washed, some quartz sand, fragments of black 

 chalk flints, rounded fragments of white chalk, and white limestone ; 

 several leaves of dicotyledonous trees were also found. 



10. Hayling Island. — Sample of clay marked "Bed B., marl from 

 high ground, mud at bottom from deep water." 



Description. — Very unctuous blue clay, intensely black in the centre 

 of the mass. When exposed to the sun and air it oxydizes, and assumes 

 a yellow colour. When washed it yielded a little fine sand, comminuted 

 shells, fragments of more or less indurated chalk and of vegetable mat- 

 ter, like sea weeds. The amount of sand and gravel was very small. 



The whole of the Hayling muds are derived from the Lower Eocene 

 dark blue clays and sands of the Hampshire Basin, which represent 

 the London Clay of the London Basin. The descriptions above given 

 apply equally well to the true " London Clay" muds of the estuary of 

 the Thames. The Langston Channel mud appeared to be the one richest 

 in microscopic life. 



Ireland. 



11. Lough Swilly, co. of Donegal. — Sample of sand from a bed formerly 

 successful. 



Description. — Fine clay slate mud, mixed with quartz sand, a 

 little slate debris, and a large proportion of comminuted shells. The 

 interior of the mass was very black. This mud resembled very much 

 the mud from Marennes, described under No. 3, and which was from a 

 locality where oysters are both bred and fattened. 



12. Lough Swilly. — Sample from cleaned bottom of Mr. Hart's en- 

 closed pond at Fahan. 



Description. — Coarse gravel of blue and greenish schists, intermingled 

 with stiff very plastic clay of a gray colour where it is sandy. 



13. Lough Sivilly. — Sample of the fine silt which deposits on the 

 cleaned bottom of Mr. Hart's enclosed pond at Fahan. 





