ST. ERTH BEDS. 
61 
during the seven years since the deposit became known, that one 
feels disinclined at present to express any positive opinion, though 
the mollusca of the deposit seem to me to point unmistakably to 
the Older Pliocene period. 
The earliest account of the marine-shells was published in 1882^' 
by Mr. Whitley, who, however, called the clay Boulder Clay, 
and spoke of it as conclusive evidence o£ glacial action. To this 
paper Mr. G. B. Sowerby added a note on the ten species of 
mollusca collected by Mr. Whitley. Five he determined as 
common living British forms ; two, a Trochus and a Turritella, 
he stated did not belong to any British species ; one, Nassa 
mutabilis, is Mediterranean and not British ; a Fusus {Eutlirid) 
is certainly not a Boreal species ” ; and a Trochita he compared 
with one found in the Barton Clay. Yet Mr. Whitley remarked 
that some of them show indications of glacial belongings.” 
The determination of the Pliocene age of the St. Erth clay was 
the last work of S. Y. Wood, jun., who died before his paper on 
the subject was published.f He came to the conclusion that the 
deposit nearly corresponded in age with the Bed Crag, but 
observed that the character of the Mollusca, as a whole, is 
essentially southern, no peculiarly arctic shell having as yet 
occurred,” A provisional list of about 50 species of Mollusca 
was added by Wood, but was not published, being withdraw for 
revision ; he, however, alludes to the distribution of about 16 of 
the species. 
In the discussion that followed the reading of this paper 
Dr. G vvyn Jeffreys, who had examined the mollusca, said that 
“ there were 44 or 45 species, out of which 11 or 12 are recent 
and 33 or 34 extinct.” Dr. Jeffreys added thathe was not 
clear whether the St. Erth deposit was of Older Pliocene or 
possibly of Upper Miocene age.” 
During the same discussion Bobert Bell, who had greatly 
assisted S. Y. Wood in the determination of the specimens, 
objected to the deposit being called Miocene, and regarded it as 
nearly of Crag age (he does not state whether Upper or Lower 
Crag). 
At the same time that Wood was studying the Mollusca 
Mr. Millett was working out the Foraminifera.{ He recognised 
the Tertiary age of the deposit, but added that the exact position 
could not be determined without further investigation. He gave a 
list of 120 species and varieties, and mentioned that there were 
others undescribed. According to Mr. Millett the Foraminifera 
indicate such a fauna as might be found in the shallow seas of 
a sub-tropical climate.” 
* The Evidence of Glacial Action in Cornwall and Devon. Trans. Geol. Soc. 
Cornwall, vol. x. pp. 132-141. 
t On a new Deposit of Pliocene Age at St. Erth, near the Land’s End, Cornwall. 
Quart, Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. xli. pp. 65-73. (1885.) 
X Notes on the Fossil Foraminifera of the St. Erth Clay Pits. Trans. Geol. Soc. 
Cornwall, vol. x. pp. 213-216, 222-226. (1885.) 
