NOTES AND QUERIES. 



Ill 



the Bed Crag of England. It is, therefore, a matter of importance to add 

 fish of any other groups to its fauna. A friend of mine received last year, 

 from Aldborough, in Suffolk, a hardened slab of crag, containing a portion 

 of the vertebral column and fins of a fish, which certainly did not appear 

 to belong to any of the forms before known. It was shown to Professor 

 Huxley, who affirmed that it was in too imperfect a state of preservation 

 to warrant any decision as to its genus or species. Sir Philip Egerton 

 likewise saw the specimen, but would not venture to say more than Pro- 

 fessor Huxley. My friend then took his specimen to Dr. Giinter, of the 

 British Museum, who is intimately acquainted with recent species of 

 fish ; after a close examination of the specimen, he came to the conclusion 

 that, judging from the position and form of the fins, the fish to which they 

 belonged was probably closely allied to the common cod (Gadus) ; but from 

 the absence of any skull-bones, and its generally imperfect state of pre- 

 servation, it was impossible to speak with more certainty. I enclose you 

 a sketch of the specimen, which measures nearly a foot in length. It is to 

 be hoped that geologists visiting the neighbourhood of Aldborough will 

 take the opportunity to make a close examination of the hardened slabs of 

 crag, which are, I believe, abundantly scattered on some parts of the shore ; 

 and I trust that it will not be long before further specimens are obtained, 

 which will throw more light upon the nature and affinities of the fish-re- 

 mains in question. 



I should observe that there is no doubt as to the specimen being derived 

 from Crag strata, as the block contains impressions of various well-known 

 crag fossils ; among others, I may mention Emarginida fissura, which, I 

 believe, does not range lower than the Crag. Truly yours, E. R. Lankester. 



8, Savile Rotv, February 6, 1863. 



Flint Implement near Norwich. — Sir, — Though recent discoveries 

 have made it difficult to say where geology ends and archaiology begins, I 

 cannot but feel that my present communication belongs rather to the 

 latter than the former branch of science ; nevertheless, I shall be glad if 

 you can find a place for it in an early number of the ' Geologist.' 



I was walking, on Saturday, Jan. 18, 1802, from Norwich to Caistor, an 

 extensive Roman encampment about four miles south of the city, and ob- 

 served, at various places on the road, heaps of flints intended for road re- 

 pairs. They appeared to be of three kinds, or, more correctly, derived 

 from three sources, viz. : — 



1st. Those recently extracted from the chalk of the district. 



2nd. Those taken from the supracretaceous gravel-beds. 



3rd. Those which had been picked off the neighbouring fields, where 

 they had been turned up by the plough or harrow. 



So far as I could judge, the three classes were kept separate, that is, 

 each heap appeared to consist of one kind only. 



At about two miles and a half from Norwich my eye casually rested on 

 a flint, which I believed to be an " implement," lying on a small heap of 

 the third kind ; and, on stepping back, my first impression proved to be 

 correct, as I took up the " implement" I now send you. 



I endeavoured to discover its " trail," but without success. The workmen 

 assured me they had never found anything of the kind in the gravel-beds, 

 or indeed anywhere. The object was evidently new to them. They were 

 of opinion that it had been " ploughed up," and picked off the ground with 

 other stones for road repairs. The Rev. Mr. Gnnn subsequently informed 

 me that it is the only specimen of its type which has been found in Norfolk. 



You will observe that it has several iron stains, especially at some of 

 the edges and angles, and also that it has some slight traces of polish; 



