460 
Geology of Norfolk. 
crao: species, which is seen at low water about half a mile west 
of Cromer. 
By the wasting of the cojist considerable quantities of the fresh- 
water deposits are annually washed into the sea. The peaty 
beds, and the clay inipresrnated with sulphate of iron, have, in 
some instances, been applied to the land, and always with bene- 
ficial effect. 
3. The Subterranean Forest. 
At various points on the coast stumps of fir-trees occur rooted 
in the sand, gravel, and clay, of the above deposit. In fresh sec- 
tions of the cliffs these rooted trees are clearly seen to be covered 
by the mass of the drift. The forest is only \-isible between high 
and low water in certain states of the wind and tides, when the 
sand and shingle which usuallv cover it are removed. Its subter- 
position to the drift of the cliffs, which can only be seen where 
their base is free from debris, is still questioned by some geo- 
logists even since it has been admitted by Mr. Lyell. The autho- 
rities for the fact, as eye-witnesses of it, have hitherto been Taylor, 
Woodward, and Mr. Syraons of Cromer. During my recent 
examination of the geology of Xorfolk I have had several oppor- 
tunities, from personal observation, of confirming their reports. 
4. Marine Bed between the Fresliicater Strata and the Drift. 
On each side of the gap at Runton I have observed immedi- 
ately above the freshwater beds the rare phenomenon, in con- 
nexion with the English drift, of a regular marine bed of shells, 
evidently on the spot which their inhabitants had frequented 
while living. On the east side of the gap the deposit contains 
two or three species grouped together ; on the west side the bed 
consists of numerous individuals of a single species of a large 
gaping bivalve, with the two valves united. The e.xistcnce of 
these beds is doubted by some geologists, because they did not 
themselves see them during a rapid tour along the coast. They 
are only visible, like the subterranean forest, when the base of 
the cliffs is clear of debris. 
Three times after their discovery I visited the place at intervals 
of several months, for the purpose of procuring specimens, and 
found the beds covered. Mr. Symons, to whom I pointed out the 
spots where I had discovered them, and whose constant residence 
in the neighbourhood enables him to seize the favourable moment 
for observation, has since seen them several times, and has un- 
dertaken to collect a suite of specimens for examination by some 
competent naturalist, tliat it may be ascertained whether there arc 
among them any of the extinct species of the Norwich crag. 
There was no intermixture of the marine and freshwater shells ; 
they wore arranged in separate beds. 
