Mr. J. S. Gardiner on the Upper Eocene. 445 



The nest section described was that exposed in the cuttings for the 

 new line from Brockenhurst to Christchureh, and here great changes 

 in the relative thicknesses are seen, confirming the view that the 

 Barton formation is the local deposit of a limited estuary. The 

 Chama-bed remains 18 ft. thick, but the shell-bed thickens to 22 ft. 

 and the drab clay with Septaria is only 10 ft. The underlying 

 greenish compact clay looks like Lower Barton, but may belong to 

 the Middle. The Upper Bartons are much weathered and unfos- 

 siliferous, but the Paluclina-be&s of the Lower Headon do not appear 

 for 3900 yards east. Some of these, 2330 yards west of the Brocken- 

 hurst road, are violently contorted. 



The Alum-Bay section was then compared with those previously 

 given, and the authors also noticed the Bracklesham, Stubbington, 

 and Hunting-Bridge sections to show the transitional character of 

 the highest of the Bracklesham beds. The paper concluded with 

 an analysis of the fauna, and carefully revised and tabulated lists. 



Mr. Monckton, in his Appendix, stated that in the London basin 

 the Barton beds are represented by the Upper Bagshot Sand, a mass 

 of yellow or nearly white sand without clay-beds, though often 

 loamy. Its greatest proved thickness is 228 1 feet, and the base is 

 marked by a very persistent bed of pebbles. 



Its extent is considerably greater than is shown on the Geolo- 

 gical Survey map. 



Casts and impressions of shells are abundant in some places, but 

 recognizable species have only been found at Tunnel Hill near 

 North Camp Station, Aldershot. A large collection from this place 

 has been made by Mr. Herries and by the author. 



April 11.— W. T. Blanford, LLJ)., F.K.S., President, 

 in the Chair. 



The following communications were read : — 



1. " On the Lower Beds of the Upper Cretaceous Series in 

 Lincolnshire and Yorkshire." By W. Hill, Esq., E.G.S. 



The Bed Chalk which forms the basement-bed of the Upper Cre- 

 taceous in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire is a continuation of the Hun- 

 stanton Limestone. Its thickness increases in South Lincolnshire 

 to thin away again in the north of that county ; but it again in- 

 creases north of the Humber for a while. Near its most north- 

 westerly exposure on the Yorkshire Wolds the red colour is lost ; 

 but Inoceramus sulcatus and Belemnites minimus are found in a 

 dirty yellow-coloured material of trifling thickness. Eastwards it 

 regains its red colour and thickness, so as to be upwards of 30 feet 

 at Speeton, where also it is less calcareous. This section was de- 

 scribed in detail, and the results compared with those of other 

 writers. The author speculated upon the probable limits of the 

 Upper Cretaceous sea at this period on evidence mainly based upon 

 the amount of matter of inorganic origin. He noted that Am. inter- 

 rwptus has been found at Withcall, Am. rostratus at South Cave, and 

 Am. ? auritus at Wharram Grange. 



The base of the Chalk Marl through Lincolnshire continues to 



