. Elements of geology, or, The ancient changes of the earth and its inhabitants as illustrated by geological monuments. Geology. 288 MIDDLE EOCENE, ENGLAND. [Ch. XVI. ance in these Barton beds. A small species called Nummulites variolaria is found both on the Hampshire coast and in beds of the same age in WhiteclirT Bay, in the Isle of Wight. Several marine shells, such as Carbula pisum, are common to the Barton beds and the Hempstead or Lower Miocene series, and a still greater number, as be- fore stated, are common to the Headon series. MIDDLE EOCENE, ENGLAND. Bagshot and BracMesham beds, B.
. Elements of geology, or, The ancient changes of the earth and its inhabitants as illustrated by geological monuments. Geology. 288 MIDDLE EOCENE, ENGLAND. [Ch. XVI. ance in these Barton beds. A small species called Nummulites variolaria is found both on the Hampshire coast and in beds of the same age in WhiteclirT Bay, in the Isle of Wight. Several marine shells, such as Carbula pisum, are common to the Barton beds and the Hempstead or Lower Miocene series, and a still greater number, as be- fore stated, are common to the Headon series. MIDDLE EOCENE, ENGLAND. Bagshot and BracMesham beds, B.—The Bagshot beds, consisting chiefly of siliceous sand, occupy extensive tracts round Bagshot, in Surrey, and in the New Forest, Hampshire. They may be separated into three divisions, the upper and lower consisting of light yellow sands, and the central of dark green sands and brown clays, the whole reposing on the London clay proper.* The uppermost division is probably very nearly related in age to the Barton series. Although the Bagshot beds are usually devoid of fossils, they contain marine shells in some places, among which Venericardia planicosta (see fig. 235) is abundant, with Turritella sulcifera and Nummulites laevigata (see fig. 239, p. 289). Fig. Venericardia planicosta, Lam. Cardita planicosta, Deshayes. At BracMesham Bay, near Chichester, in Sussex, the characteristic shells of this member of the Eocene series are best seen; among others, the huge Cerithium giganteum, so conspicuous in the calcaire grossier of Paris, where, it is sometimes two feet in length. The volutes and cowries of this formation, as well as the luniilites and corals, seem to favor the idea of a warm climate having prevailed, which is borne out by the discovery of a serpent Palceopliis typhoeus (see fig. 236), exceeding, according to Professor Owen, twenty feet in length, and allied in its osteology to the Boa, Python, Coluber, and Hydrus. The compressed form and diminutive size of cer
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