378 



THE WONDERS OF GEOLOGY. 



Lect. IV. 



11. Wealden of the Isle of Wight. — Freshwater 

 deposits similar to those we have described in Kent, Sussex, 

 and Surrey, appear at the back, or along the southern shore, 

 of the Isle of Wight ; constituting the lowermost strata in 

 that island, as shown in the section, Lign. 78, p. 364. 

 These strata consist of clays, sands, and sandstones, with 

 bands of shelly limestones, and grit ; and are replete with 

 the same species of river shells, terrestrial plants, and bones 

 of reptiles, as the wealden of the S. E. of England. They 

 form a line of low cliffs, in Sandown Bay, on the south-east 

 of the island ; and in the bay between Atherfield Point and 

 Compton Bay, on the south-west.* 



The relative position of the strata is shown in the 

 annexed section, from the coast at Brook Point, to the chalk 

 downs on the north. If we proceed from the sea-shore at 

 Brook-chine, through the village of Brook, towards Shal- 



Shalcomb Down. 



North. 



-Section from Brook Point to Shalcomb Down; in tb 

 Isle of Wight. 



1 . Wealden beds. a. Fossil Trees. 2. Lower group of Greensand. 



3. Upper group of Greensand. 4. Gait. 5. Firestone. 6. White Chalk. 



comb-down, we pass over the beds in the following order. 

 1. Wealden clays, grits, &c. forming the cliff. 2 and 3. 

 Greensand. 4. Gait. 5. Firestone. 6. Chalk. 



* The reader is referred to my Geological Excursions round the Isle 

 of Wight, for particular information on these strata, and their organic 

 remains. 



