Dr. Nugent on the Geology of the Island of Antigua, 461 
shew that it may be divided into successive layers or beds, distinct in 
themselves, and containing each its appropriate fossil remains. I have 
never yet, however, been able to convince myself that such is really 
the case. Throughout the greater part of its extent, this calcareous 
formation consists of a closely impacted marl, readily broken down by 
the hoe or other means, and then assuming a friable and pulverulent 
appearance, either of a white or light yellowish colour, containing no 
other foreign admixture than that of certain shells and corallines, and 
perhaps decayed vegetable substances. Through this marl run, in a 
great many places, layers and irregular masses of various sizes, of a 
tolerably compact limestone, which generally breaks into rounded 
fragments, containing a considerable variety of fossil shells, nodules 
of calcareous spar, and small patches and druses of cellular and 
crystallized quartz, chalcedony, and agate. The infinite number of 
these fragments of limestone must have considerably embarrassed the 
early cultivators of the land, and in many parts, especially the 
windward districts, have been formed with great toil into walls of 
inclosure. In other places we observe strata of stone running 
through this marl, of a different character, consisting of a grit stone 
divisible into thin layers, as may be seen, for instance, cropping out 
on the high road near the Parham new work, and extending through 
Batty’s Hope and Eliott’s estates. Examined with a magnifying 
glass, it appears made up of very minute fragments of quartz, horn- 
blende, jasper, hornstone, and green earth, held together by an 
argillaceous cement. It is for the most part shivery, breaking into 
angular pieces, but may occasionally be raised in large and compact 
blocks, and is then serviceable in masonry as a fire-stone. A third 
kind of indurated stratum, contained in this marl formation, is a 
smooth grained calcareous sandstone : extensive layers of this are to 
be met with near Gilbert’s, and in the small islands on the north 
