316 ME. E. T. NEWTON ON THE CETACEA 



26. A CoNTETBUTioN to the HiSTOET of the Cexacea of the Norfolk 



" PoEEST-BEj)." Ey E. T. Newton, Esq., E.G.S. (Read 



April 7, 1886.) 



[Plate XI.] 



When the Geological Survey Memoirs on the geology and 

 palaeontology of the country around Cromer were published, it waa 

 hoped they would awaken an increased interest in the collecting of 

 fossils, more especially from the " Eorest-bed Series," and thus be 

 the means of increasing our knowledge of the fauna and flora of 

 these deposits. Since that time there has been a more energetic 

 collecting of " Eorest-bed " fossils, with the result that several new 

 forms have now to be added to our lists. My colleague, Mr. Clement 

 Eeid, has discovered a number of new plants, an account of which 

 will shortly be published. Regarding the vertebrate fauna, perhaps 

 the most remarkable addition has been that of the Ovibos moschatus, 

 from Trimingham, made known to us by Prof. W. Boyd Dawkins, 

 who has also recognized Cervus tetraceros from West Runton (Quart. 

 Journ. Geol. Soc. vol. xxxix. p. 575, and vol. xli. p. 243) and has 

 likewise discovered a new form of deer from Kessingland, to be called 

 Cervus Savini (Fioc. Roy. Soc. vol. xxxviii. p. 345), the description of 

 which has yet to be published. Hycena crocuta has been found at 

 Corton Cliff (Geol. Mag. dec. ii. vol. x. p. 433), and Mr. Savin has 

 fragments of this species from near Cromer. Several species which 

 were not well authenticated have now been confirmed by additional 

 examples : thus there is no longer any doubt as to the occurrence 

 of Cervus ela^hus, Mr. W. Davies, of the British Museum, having 

 determined an antler in the collection of Mr. Backhouse, of York, 

 The doubtful humerus of "Wolf has now been supplemented by a part 

 of a jaw from East Runton and a piece of tibia from Kessingland. 



The latest acquisition has been made by Mr. Clement Reid, who, 

 during a recent holiday on the Norfolk coast, purchased from a 

 fisherman a tooth which had just been washed out of the " Eorest- 

 bed " at Sidestrand (PI. XI. fig. 1) ; this he recognized as new to the 

 deposits, and thinking that it was probably Sperm-Whale, kindly 

 left it with me for determination. There is no doubt as to the 

 horizon of this specimen ; for although found on the shore just after 

 a storm, as, indeed, is the case with most of the vertebrate fossils of 

 this deposit, it has, cemented to it by iron pyrites, the peculiar white 

 sandy matrix of the " Eorest-bed." This tooth is in a very perfect 

 condition, only the thin edges of the pulp-cavity being broken away, 

 and this has evidently been done by rolling on the shore subsequent 

 to removal from its resting-place. The summit has been rounded 

 by wear during life, in a manner similar to that which is seen in 

 the teeth of the recent Sperm-Whale ; and the external surface, 

 which is partly obscured by the incrusting sandy matrix, presents 

 a number of irregular longitudinal grooves, especially noticeable 

 towards the base. There is a slight, but distinct double curvature. 



