43 
GRYPH2EA sinuata. 
TAB. CCCXXXVI. 
Spec. Char. Suborbicular ; one side cunei- 
form ; beaks very small, laterally incurved ; 
one valve convex, subcarinated ; the other 
nearly flat, with a sinus above the angle of 
the cuneiform side ; hinge pit marginal, 
long, narrow and curved. 
T HE bilobate form of the deeper valve, marks this shell 
as a Gryphaea, while its incurved, although small beaks, 
help to distinguish it further from Ostrea. The sinus 
between the beaks, and the angle of the cuneiform side is 
not very deep, and in the adult shell is nearly obliterated 
in the margin, but it is easily recognized by the lines of 
growth upon the surface near the beaks ; when the spe- 
cimen is not in a state to exhibit this character, the form 
of the hinge may help to discover the species. 
This gigantic Gryphite grows half as long again as the 
figure. It seems to be peculiar to the Iron Sand Form- 
ation ; it is found near Ashford, and upon the high range 
of hills bounding Romney Marsh, five miles from Hythe 
in Kent, as I learn by specimens sent me by A. Power, 
and H. Walker, Esqrs. of that County. I have also a 
large rather elongated specimen with remarkable bilobed 
