RAISED BEACHES AND SUBMERGED FORESTS. 
181 
here is 15 fathoms. It is quite clear that considerable modifica- 
tions in the relations of land and sea have taken place since the 
Raised Beach era. 
Among the shells yielded by the Beach are those of whelk, 
limpet, oyster, cockle, and periwinkle; and a few nodules of 
umber, evidently the result of limestone decomposition, were 
mixed with the pebbles. 
The points at which Submerged Forests have been recorded in the 
neighbourhood of Plymouth are Sandycove — a spot now obliterated 
on the eastern side of Millbay, near the pontoon — and Bovisand. I 
have been unable to detect any traces of a peat bed or allied deposit 
elsewhere in Millbay, or in the recent excavations made in what 
was anciently the Surpool area ; but that a forest growth extended 
up the valley of the Plym is clear. Mr. J. C. Bellamy 1 notes its 
occurrence in the bed of the Laira ; and there is a piece of wood 
in our Museum dug from this locality at a depth of thirty feet 
from the surface. What is especially important here is that the 
same writer records — "A piece of oak bearing marks of the axe 
was taken up some years ago in sinking a shaft in the bed of the 
Laira, at a considerable depth. It may be seen in my brother's 
museum, Plymouth." 2 
The Bovisand submerged forest is now mainly represented by 
a peat bed which extends some distance from the beach up the 
little valley beneath the soil. Beyond trunks of trees (sometimes 
seen in situ beneath the water after storms) no discoveries of note 
appear to have been made here ; but I have observed in the peat 
diminutive patches of earthy blue iron ore, or vivianite — phosphate 
of iron — which curiously enough is also associated with the forest 
deposits of Pentuan. 
Our most interesting local example of submerged forest growth 
is put upon record for the first time to-night, although discovered 
some forty years ago. 
The Museum of our colleague, Mr. Brent, contains a fine imple- 
ment made of the horn of the red deer, which was found in the 
course of excavating for the formation of the Keyham Docks. 
Having seen this as a child, in an exhibition held in connection 
with the Devonport Mechanics' Institute, I had some recollection 
1 Natural Hist, of S. Devon, p. 108. 2 Ibid, p. 124. 
