1 68 THE STORY OF THE EARTH. 



gnolia, ebony and spurge are present, as are 

 representatives of some medicinal plants like 

 StrychflOSy which yields mix vomica, and of Ci/i- 

 chona^ which yields quinine. There are represent- 

 atives of the tomato and melon. Apples are 

 represented by Cotoruaster y and associated with 

 almonds and plums. The cocoa is represented 

 by a species of Theobroma. There are several 

 limes and maples. Water-lilies are represented 

 by the Lotus, and the Victoria lily of tropical 

 America. 



The London clay is well developed in Belgium 

 and in the north of France. It does not reach the 

 Paris basin in a recognisable form; though it may 

 be represented by the lignites and sands of the 

 Soissonnais. But neither the lignites in France, 

 nor the Ypresien beds which represent the London 

 clay in Belgium, yield the abundance of fruits 

 which is met with in the Isle of Sheppey. Some 

 of the Belgian specimens of Nipa are much better 

 preserved than the macerated and compressed 

 fruits of Sheppey, as though they were deposited 

 without being so long in the water. 



Above the London clay are the sands which 



cap the hills at Harrow, Hampstead, Highgate, 



High beech, Haveringate and many places in 



raying formerly been spread continuously 



all over the London clay, as they si Ml are between 



am and Aldershot They form Ascot Heath 



• 1 [eath, and are known as the Bagshot 



ds. 



lower part, termed Lower Bagshot Sands, 

 thickens in the Isle <>f Wight to about Xoo feet, 

 and 'he brilliantly coloured vertical sands 



of Alum Bay, They are laminated with fi 



at Woking, when- the thickness is about 



