Vol.  49.] 
OE  THE  SHERBORNE  DISTRICT. 
493 
Discitce. 
Concavi. 
Feet.  Inches. 
L.  8.  Greyish-green,  sandy  limestone  Frag¬ 
ments  of  two  or  three  species  of  a  smooth 
Sonninia,  indeterminable  on  account  of 
their  rotten  condition.  The  septate 
half-whorl  of  a  giant  ‘  Sonninia  ’ 
ovalis1  41  centim.  (16f  inches)  in  dia¬ 
meter,  Astarte  excavata .  6 
9.  Brown,  sandy  parting  with  some  stone. 
Terebratula  cortonensis  and  allied  forms 
abundant.  Trigonia  striata,  Miller, 
Gryphcea  aff.  sublobata,  Ostrea,  Lima 
Etkeridgii,  Wright,  Gervillia  Hart- 
manni,  Terebratula  Eudesiana,  S. 
Buckm.,  Hyperlioceras  discites,  and 
H.  WalJceri .  5 
10.  Grey,  sandy  stone,  Hyperlioceras  discites, 
Terebratula  Eudesi,  slight  parting  .  4 
M.  11.  Grey,  sandy  stone.  Lioceras  concavum 
(Sow.)  and  its  allies  abundant.  Lud- 
wigia  rudis,  Sonninia  sp.2  .  11 
12.  Earthy  parting .  3 
13.  Grey  sandstone.  Lioceras  concavum 
(Sow.),  Ludwigia  cornu,  Sonninia 
crassispinata,  S.  Buckm .  2  0 
Notes  on  the  ‘  Fossil  Bed  ’  of  Sandforcl  Lane. — Although  this 
bed  comes  out  as  one  compact  block,  yet  it  requires  little  observa¬ 
tion  to  see  that  the  upper  part  of  the  bed  is  not  only  lithologically 
different  from  the  lower,  but  contains  a  different  fauna.  During  the 
excavations  every  precaution  was  taken  to  note  the  position  of  the 
Ammonites  in  relation  to  the  bed.  In  many  cases  this  was  done — 
the  specimens  being  labelled  at  the  time ;  but  in  the  various  opera¬ 
tions  of  blasting  and  quarrying  the  bed  was  frequently  turned  over, 
and  the  workmen  would  also  misplace  the  parts,  particularly 
when  using  the  sledge-hammer  for  breaking  the  bed,  unless  very 
closely  watched.  It  may  be  noticed  that  the  matrix  affords  very 
substantial  evidence  as  to  the  position  of  those  specimens  which  it 
was  not  possible  to  label  on  the  spot,  as  well  as  those  collected  many 
years  ago.  Attention  to  this  matter,  with  the  assistance  of  the 
specimens  of  known  position,  together  with  notes  made  during  the 
progress  of  the  work,  will  enable  the  position  of  each  species  to  be 
determined  with  fair  accuracy,  when  they  fall  to  be  described  in 
the  forthcoming  parts  of  my  monograph  (Palaeont.  Soe.).  Mean¬ 
while  the  list  on  the  following  page  will  give  an  idea  of  the  faunal 
contents  of  the  bed  : — - 
1  Ammonites  Sowerbyi  ovalis,  Quenstedt. — Possibly  when  complete  this  giant 
exceeded  2  feet  (61  centim.)  in  diameter,  for,  admitting  that  the  body-chamber 
at  once  followed  the  septa  seen,  at  least  half  a  whorl  must  be  added.  Such 
dimensions  far  exceed  those  of  any  species  of  the  Sonninince  known  to  me.  No 
other  specimen  of  this  species  is  in  my  cabinet. 
2  Monogr.  ‘  Inf.  Ool.  Ammonites,’  Palaeont.  Soc.  1893,  pi.  xc.  figs.  7-9. 
