390 THE MOUSTERIAN PERIOD. 



In Guernsey, the sands which contain shells ( Transactions, 

 1912, fol. 380) have given us no means of judging accurately of 

 their true horizon. All that we can feel sure of is that these 

 shell deposits are between the clays. 



These shell sands may be seen at Fermain Bay and at 

 St. Martin's point. The deposits will be found to be quite 

 horizontal and of some thickness. They form part of the 

 " Head " but differ from the other components in that they 

 do not follow the curve of the cliff — that is, they were 

 deposited on a land surface which does not exist now. This is 

 also true of the old land surface shown between the clays at 

 Belcroute Bay, Jersey. That land surface may have been of 

 small extent and must have been supported on the sea side 

 where there is now no supporting margin. The shells are 

 those that would be found on the margins of fresh water 

 ponds. (See Transactions, 1912, fol. 380.) 



As the lower clay and other components of the " Head " 

 lie below them, the inference is that the land was temporarily 

 extended by sand dunes which covered the lower " Head " and 

 afforded temporary support to the formation of which they 

 formed a part. Thus while the beds abutted the cliff they 

 were practically outside it. 



After their deposition the upper clay was deposited. 

 These beds are in layers and the solution of the shells in one 

 layer has provided cementing material for the next layer 

 where the sand, with an admixture of clay which has permeated 

 the sands, has produced the concretions called " Paunchen " 

 or " Puppchen." If these beds are the local representatives 

 of the continental " Loess " they give us a land surface on 

 this side of our island of which there is now no other 

 indication. 



In Jersey, as stated by Mr. Sinel (op. cit.), these sands 

 and clays exist on the islet of La Motte where also they form 

 the same concretions. 



Besides these sands we have gravel deposits the result of 

 rains or water from the melting of snows, which I put down 

 to the period we are now discussing ; but if they are due to the 

 latter cause they must have preceded the advent of man who 

 followed the ice margin. The gravels are to be found at 

 several bay sections, at Pollet Street (not now visible) and 

 under the new road at the Town Church. We also have a 

 land surface between the clays in the Jersey Belcroute cliff 

 section which also yields shells. It is, I think, different from 

 the La Motte deposit in that it has not the same Loess 

 character. 



