36 LOWER OOLITIC ROCKS OF ENGLAND : 
to whom they were known as " Pundibs/'* a name still retained 
by quarrymen. This species is represented in Dorsetshire by T. 
sphceroidalis, which locally forms one or more Terebratula-beds. 
Other species, such as Rhynchonrlla angulata, R. sultetrahedra, 
Terebratula perooalis, Waldkeimin anglica, and W. carinata occur 
at different horizons. 
Of other fossils we find numerous Polyzoa; Crustacea are 
extremely rare ; while Insects have only been recorded with 
doubt, f Many Annelides occur. Echinodermata are found in 
great abundance and variety ; the genera including Pentacrinus 
and other Crinoids, Cidaris, Clypeus, Hcmipedina, Hyboclypus, 
Pygaster, Stomechinus, Astropecten, &c. Spicules of Holothuroids 
have been observed. Corals are very plentiful in certain layers, 
the more abundant forms being Isastrcea, Latimceandra, Mont- 
livaltia, Oroseris and Thamnastrcsa. In the Cotteswold Hills 
there are three or four coral-beds ; which, as Prof. Duncan has 
remarked, occur in banks rather than reefs. Again, at Dundry 
and also in Lincolnshire, there are well-marked coral-beds. A 
number of Sponges have also been obtained ; and many of these, 
according to Prof. Sollas, are shallow-water forms.J 
The Plants include Ferns, Conifers, and Cycads; but specimen* 
are of rare occurrence. 
The distribution of the fossils, and the endeavour to picture 
the life-history of the strata and the physical features of the 
period, naturally furnish the most interesting studies connected 
with the Inferior Oolite Series. The richness of its fossil-beds 
has attracted many a collector, and whether he go to the neighbour- 
hood of Bridport or Sherborne in Dorsetshire, to Stroud or 
Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, an abundant harvest of organic 
remains may be reaped. Other fossiliferous localities will be 
mentioned in the sequel, but of course there are many places 
where fossils are rare or but imperfectly preserved. 
As is the case with the Lias and other formations, the so-called 
characteristic fossils are variously distributed : there are some 
species of Lamellibranchs, Gasteropods, and Brachiopods that 
occur in all divisions of the series : others are much more restricted 
both as to place and horizon. Moreover in beds on the same 
horizon, as for instance in Dorsetshire, we may notice the changes 
in their organic contents from place to place : Cephalopocls, 
Lamellibranchs, or Brachiopods in turn prevailing.^ 
Again when the formation is represented in an attenuated 
form, as in Dorsetshire, we find, as with the Lias under similar 
conditions, that we have a rich and varied fauna preserved in a, 
few layers : and where the beds are much more thickly developed 
we find occasional fossil-beds, but the fossils are more sparsely 
preserved. 
* J. Woodward, Nat. Hist. Fossils of England, part 2, pp. 45, 46. 
f See Moore, Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. xvii. p. 513. 
j Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. xxxix. p. 551 ; see also Hinde, Ibid., vol. xlvii. 
p. 553 ; and British Jurassic Sponges (Pal. Soc.), Part III., 1894. 
See also Whidborne, Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. xxxix. p. 487. 
