60 LOWER OOLITIC ROCKS OF ENGLAND : 
remains that represent several zones, the species belonging to 
which have become more or less interblended. Deposition was no 
doubt comparatively slow, when we compare the thin beds of 
Dorsetshire with those of Gloucestershire, and we find, as is the 
case where the Lower Lias is thinly developed, that a considerable 
variety as well as abundance of organic remains may be obtained 
from the attenuated beds. It is, moreover, quite possible that 
some intermixture of forms may be due to organic remains sinking 
through the calcareous mud into layers deposited long previously. 
Fossils are readily to be obtained from the blocks of stone 
stacked in the quarries ; but those who desire to identify zones, 
must seek their specimens in situ from the individual layers of 
stone a task that means many hours of labour in each quarry. 
The pale grey oolitic and earthy limestones, that form the upper 
portion of the Inferior Ooiite of this district, belong to the zone of 
Ammonites Parkinsoni. Fine specimens of this species and of 
Nautilus lineatus and N.polygonalis, many of which have been cut 
and polished for sale, have been obtained from quarries at Vinney 
(Vitney or Lydney) Cross, on the Dorchester road, about 3 mile* 
east of Bridport.* Here also two marked Tcrebratula-beds were 
to be seen, containing the characteristic T. sphceroidalis, together 
with T. Phillipsi, Rhynchonclla spinosa, Waldhcimia carinata, 
Lima pectiniformis, and Belemnites. At the base of these lime- 
stones, Astarte obliqua occurs, as in the coast-section. 
These beds, together with the underlying iron-shot limestones, 
have been quarried in several places west of Shipton Beacon, and 
in one opening, known as Hyde quarry, south of Walditch, I 
obtained two fine examples of Ammonites humphricsianusifom the 
lower beds. This fact is of some interest, because in the coast 
section only very small examples of A. humphriesianus have been 
found, and some authorities even hesitate to call them by that name. 
The iron-shot beds include in places the base of the zone of 
Ammonites Parkinsoni; but in beds of this character, more 
especially in the lower portion, Ammonites Murchisona may 
usually be found. Mr. E. A. Walford obtained a number of 
Polyzoa and Sponges from the upper beds of the Inferior Oolite 
in a quarry near the New Inn, Shipton Gorge. t 
The same general succession (as previously noted) may be 
determined in the hills between Chideock and Symondsbury, 
where there are several quarries and road-cuttings. The beds 
are much faulted, so that higher and lower divisions occur in 
irregular juxtaposition. Traces of Fuller's Earth were exposed 
in one quarry on the northern hill, faulted against the pale earthy 
oolitic limestones, with the Terebratula bed. 
On the southern hill, there are pits showing, in addition to the 
upper beds, about 10 feet of brown iron-shot oolite in massive 
beds, much fissured, and with the joints filled with calc-spar. 
Some of these beds contain so much ferruginous matter as to 
* A section here is recorded by Mr. Hudleston, Inf. Ool. Gasteropoda, pp. 37, 38. 
f Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. xlv. p. 561, vol. ]., p. 72. 
