1849.] TYLOR ON EOCENE IRON ORE. 133 



Cy prides are found with the remains of Holoptychius and Palceonis- 

 cus in the bituminous shales. 



On comparing our section with that of the Bay of Fundy coal- 

 measures, although the analogy is in many respects very striking, 

 there is this remarkable difference, that, whilst we have the remains 

 of some decidedly salt-water fish and fucoids at various levels in a 

 section embracing a depth of 1860 feet only, ^'not a trace of any sub- 

 stance of a marine character" * has been found in the Bay of Fundy 

 section, through a vertical range of 14,570 feet. 



Although the great mass of evidence afforded by this section is on 

 the side of those geologists who contend that coal beds were formed 

 from trees or plants which grew upon the spot where the coal now 

 exists, yet we certainly have one distinct example of a thin seam 

 (No. 27) formed from drifted materials deposited in very shallow 

 water. 



In conclusion, I may remark, that many interesting pheenomena 

 have necessarily been unnoticed in this brief sketch of the lower por- 

 tion of the productive coal-measures of Sydney, which I shall en- 

 deavour to describe in a future communication. 



3. On the Occurrence of Productive Iron Ore in the Eocene Forma- 

 tions of Hampshire. By Alfred Tylor, Esq., F.G.S. 



The presence of large ferruginous Septaria, containiag carbonized 

 wood, principally in small fragments, was noticed in the lower part 

 of the Barton clays, between Barton Cliff and Muddiford, by Mr. 

 Prestwich and myself about two years ago. At that time we did not 

 proceed west of Christchurch ; and I was unable to accompany Mr. 

 Prestwich in his more recent visit to the cliffs between Christchurch 

 and Poole, when Mr. Prestwich also noticed the very ferruginous 

 condition of these large tabular Septaria f. 



Having lately had an opportunity of paying a visit to Hengistbury 

 Head, I was much interested in finding that these blocks have been 

 found to contain so large a per-centage of iron as to be available for 

 economic purposes. As productive iron ores have not previously been 

 known to occur in the English tertiaries, I have thought the fact of 

 sufficient interest to be laid before the Geological Society. 



Mr. Holloway, of Christchurch, who has undertaken these works, 

 informs me that the occurrence of large masses containing iron in 

 these cliffs appears to have been discovered in the reign of Charles II., 

 during a survey of the adjoining harbour of Christchurch. The king 

 was recommended to establish iron-works here for the purpose of 

 founding cannon ; the ore was to be obtained from the shore, and 

 the charcoal from the neighbouring New Forest ; this scheme, how- 

 ever, was not carried out. Within the last three years Mr. Holloway 

 sent specimens to South Wales for examination. The first impres- 

 sion of the ironmasters was unfavourable ; for although, from the 



* President's Address, Quart. Journ, Geol. Soc. vol. ii. p. 179. 

 t Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, vol. v. p. 45. 

 VOL. VI. PART I. L 



