308 PROCEEDINGtS OF THE GEQLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



sand, with some clay, including small nodules, containing Brissus and 

 Ammonites Martini, with detached valves of Grypheea. Next are 

 seen the nearly parallel edges of Gryphcea sinuata, in ranges indi- 

 cating three or four continuous strata, with irregular clusters between 

 them. Then greenish indurated sand, containing various shells, with 

 carbonized vegetable impressions ; and nearer the top another range 

 of detached, very thick-shelled Gryphcea sinuata, with fossiliferous 

 nodules above it. The ferruginous matter of this bed is in some places 

 distinctly oolitic, like that of the lower Gryphsea group (No. 13). 



No. 37 is a mass, not more than 3^ feet thick, of greenish sand, 

 containing nearly the same assemblage of fossils as No. 45, with large 

 specimens of GryphcBa sinuata ; this being the highest point in this 

 section which has aiforded that species. 



Most of the varieties of GrypJima sinuata figured by Mons. Ley- 

 merie exist in my collection from this coast ; but the number from 

 diiferent points is not sufficient to decide whether the different forms 

 are appropriated to particular groups or strata,— as seems to be the 

 case near Vassy in France, where Mons. Cornuel assured me that he 

 could at once assign each variety of form to a special place in the 

 section of that vicinity. Many specimens of Gryphsea here are di- 

 stinguished by the prominence and irregularity of the dorsal ridge and 

 the great accumulation of shell about the hinge. The interior of the 

 shell also is sometimes almost chambered in consequence of the sepa- 

 ration of the plates. 



The vegetable remains in Nos. 36 and 37 have a glistening surface 

 like that of plumbago. They were found by Mr. Morris to be distinctly 

 portions of Lonchopteris Mantellii, a fern of the Wealden hitherto 

 found in that deposit only, but which seems to be diffused in frag- 

 ments nearly throughout the whole of the lower greensand. Its 

 occurrence amidst shells exclusively marine, makes it probable that 

 when these remains were deposited in the detritus which now forms 

 the lower greensand, some portion of the Wealden land was still above 

 the sea ; but the fragments of Lonchopteris found here are very small, 

 and so confusedly mixed together, that they may have been transported 

 from great distances. In No. 36 they are accompanied by Inoceramus 

 {gryphceoides ?), a marine species not hitherto seen in any other part 

 of this section. 



"^ Large masses of genuine greensand are frequently found upon 

 the shore west of Cliff-End, fallen from the upper part of the mural 

 face or from the remoter cliff above ; and great flakes are seen from 

 time to time to be detached from the exterior of the mural cliff, 

 parallel to the general face, and apparently cutting without interrup- 

 tion through portions of what, in other places, seem to be distinct 

 strata. These masses consist of sand of a full green colour, in some 

 places marked or varied in a very striking manner by small spots or 

 patches of a much lighter hue than the rest, and of a somewhat re- 

 gular figure, so as to resemble the ramifications of certain fuci. The 



masses fallen from the higher portions are rich in fossils. The whole series here- 

 abouts deserves examination from the fossiliferous concretions which it contains. 



