THE MINERAL CONCHOLOGY OF GREAT BRITAIN V02, SOWERBY 1812 to 1834

THE

MINERAL CONCHOLOGY
OF

GREAT BRITAIN;
OR

COLOURED FIGURES AND DESCRIPTIONS
OF THOSE

REMAINS OF TESTACEOUS ANIMALS

WHICH HAVE BEEN PRESERVED AT VARIOUS TIMES AND DEPTHS

IN

THE EARTH.

By JAMES SOWERBY, F.L.S. G.S. W.S.
HONORARY MEMBER OF THE PHYSICAL SOCIETY OF GOTTINGEN, OF
THE SOCIETY OF JENA, &C.
AUTHOR OF BRITISH MINERALOGY, EXOTIC MINERALOGY, BRITISH MISCELLANY, ENGLISH FUNGI, AND A BOTANICAL
DRAWING book;
DESIGNER OF ENGLISH BOTANY, ^c.
Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done;
they cannot be reckoned up in order to thee: if I would declare and speak
of them, they are more than can be numbered.
Psalm

xl. 5.

VOL. n.

LONDON:
Printed by AKDING and MERRETT,

And

31,

Old Boswell Court, Carey Street.

Sowi;rby, No. 2, Mead Place,
Sherwood and Co. Paternoster Row,
And by all Booksellers in Town and Country.

sold by the Author,

J.

MDCCCXVIII.

Lambeth;



AMMONITES

splendens.

TAB. cm.
Spec, Char.

Involute^ depressed, front

creniilated edges

cealed,

few;

;

with

flat

inner whorls three parts con-

sides

flat;

radii alternately one

long and two short; aperture long.

Corne

d'

Amnion

fort plate,

unie et ornee de

Bourguet Traiie des

fleurs.

Petrifications,

48. /. 312.

pi.

liiE whorls are

number about

in

three, quickly diminish-

ing, the aperture being half the diameter of the shell long
at the back, one fourth wide;
radii

shell,

and obscure towards the middle of the whorls

are

The

the front narrower.

very prominent near

long

the

centre of the
;

near

the front they are again prominent, and together with the
short ones form the crenulated margin;
little

towards the mouth.

The

plane.

cast

is

The middle

they

all

of the front

ornamented in the same

curve a
is

nearly

way

as the

external surface.

This beautiful species
Folkstone in Kent.

wyn, and
not yet

also

is

found in a pyritaceous marie at

I received

specimens from Mr. Dill-

from the indefatigable Mr. Gibbs.

know of their being found

elsewhere, although

other of the Folkstone species are found in Sussex.
shell often remains

colour, except

when

it

:

it

where

is
it

I do
some

The

extremely thin, and of a cream
has become partly decomposed,

often exhibits the most splendent iridescent lustre,

equal to those Ammonites, &c. envellopcd in the Carinthian

Vol.

II.


2
Am*

marble, and I think superior to the Broad Marsfon

monites mentioned by Dr. Maton

in his

(Ammonites planicosta figured

my

shows a good specimen;

Tvith

wet

erated.

most perfect, yet

Fig.

1

is

if

made

is

gummed

pellucid

nearly oblit-

is

is

commonly

is

Fig. 2.

must supply the

a small specimen which

but contains the centre (which

II. p. 21.

plate 73.)

which when the surface

figure with lustre,
is

in

imagination

Tour,

less

angular

lost in larger

or older specimens) whole: at the top, near the figure,

a

small vestige of the siphuncle, nearly black,

some specimens

preserved very distinctly, while

is

which are

pears, from others

for a siphuncle to exist:

Figure 3

mon.

foliated sutures
little

is

it

is

far

more

it

is

in

ap-

perfect, impossible

in the front ns

is

most com-

a pyritaceous cast, and exhibits the

which are more or

less

conspicuous and a

peculiar in the continuous structure below the higher

risings of the radii,

upper
lieve,

which

figure.

A

which are rather blunter than

species nearly resembling this

found at Westbrook

in Wilts.

is,

in the
I be-


3

AMMONITES

Calloviensis.

TAB. CIV.

Spec. Char.

Involute, subiiinbilicate, rather de-

volutions

pressed;

concealed; front

about

flat;

five,

three-fourths

radii small^ very

numer-

two

to five

ous, alternately one long and from

obscure

short,
shells

in

the

latter

whorls

of old

aperture orbicular when young, deltoid

;

with the angles truncated when old.

Age

makes a great

this shell,

the

numerous sharp
very prominent

difference in the form of the whorls of

young ones

radii in sets,

at the

composed of one long one

commencement, and from two

about two-thirds the length, and

The

having

roundish, and

being-

grown

outer whorls of full

all

shells are triangular, the

two inner angles being truncated, so
iimbilicate appearance;

to five

passing over the front.

the surface

wrinkled near the back, and has

as to give the shell
is

many

an

largely undulated,
irregular

striae

in

the place of radii : the inner surface differs from the outer

only

in the larger

whorls being free from

strias

and losing

the radii sooner.

Found

in a

in the shelly

more or

less

Limestone

at

mutilated state very abundantly

Galloways or Kellaways Bridge.

have received specimens from many kind friends. Fig. 1
in the plate was sent me by my friend Mr. Salmon of DeI

vizes,

and

I

picked up the specimen from which Fig. 2

is


dra-wn envelloped in a rough piece of Limestone on the

road near Chatley;

it

much

is

stained with rust of Iron,

but was said to have been brought from Kellaways Bridge.

Much

of the shell

is

sometimes preserved of a dirty or

ochraceouslj -stained white;

seem much

altered

away, especially

:

rather thick,

it is

in the older shells

and does not

generally broken

it is

where perhaps the

in the latter whorl,

chambers have not been formed, as well as lower down,
where the divisions are perhaps not so strong, on account
of the breadth of their construction: the cast in this case
exhibits something of swollen large undulations, but rarely

the costae, and would not,
the same shell.

It is

if

detached, be

known

as part of

composed of sandy Limestone; the

chambers contain crystallized Carbonate of Lime

:

in

some

cases no vestige of the siphuncle could be perceived, but

Fig.

shows

1

near the upper edge.

it

Fig. 5 exhibits a specimen given
Steinhauer:

and

other,

valves,

seems to be a

it

is

its

it

distinctly

white Carbonate of Lime.

rest

of the shell

is

nearly

Possibly good specimens might

having a rather rounded

by

has similar bi-

shows the siphuncle which

this beautiful little shell to

are defined

it

matrix as the other has, denoting a

coloured black, whereas the

prove

H.

This was taken out of a piece about two

inches in diameter;

diflfers in

the Rev.

rarer variety than the

seldom found so perfect;

&c. about

similar locality.

is

much

me by

be a distinct species

front, the

:

it

edges of which

sharpish tubercles just on the bend of the

radii; the radii also are

more prominent near the

and the aperture rather lunulate.

centre,

;

AMMONITES

excavatus.

TAB. CV.

Spec. Char.

Involute, lenticular, subumbilicate

whorls about

crenulated;

keel sharpish,

young

those of the

shell

six,

exposed ; inner margin

nearly right-angled; radii curved, obscure in

full

grown

aperture in adult shells

shells;

inner angles truncated.

sagittate;

A SLIGHT concavity

separates the keel from the remaining

uniformly convex sides; the radii, which
whorls of full-grown shells are
are in the

striae,

first

The

partial umbilicus.

young

I

The chambers

had the pleasure of picking
hill

no more specimens

rounded, and

it

may

about half

this

up

a few years ago on

by Carbonate of Lime

thick,

and appears very exact

back

at the

are rather distinct.

possibly be rare.

is

replaced

is

and the width

of Shotover near Oxford, and as

which

bers are

shell are

length of the aperture

that of the diameter of the shell,

the productive

irregular

space which in the old shells forms a

flat

about one-third.

in the last-formed

more than

whorls very prominent over the inner

angles; these angles in the

have not the

little

in

commonly hollow, and

most

is

parts.

I

The

saw
shell

moderately

The cham-

crystallized within;

the

by Carbonate of Lime.
chamber, which would add a fourth to the

thin septa are also distinctly replaced

The

finishing

size of the whole,

and which

I

have separate,

is filled

with


6
a granular Limestone, similar
and which

in

which

it

was found,

quarried there for paving, buildiDg, &c.

is

perpendicular inner margin of the whorls

is

an inch on the biggest part; thus the umbilicus
although commencing rather suddenly
the bottom

is

five whorls,

consequently nearly

and very

flat,

The

three-eighths of
is

deep,

at the fourth whorl,

composed of four or

perfect, to the minutest.

T

was glad

to discover the proper place for the siphuncle, expressed on

the upper edge,

by breaking

the shell in looking for the

contour of the chambers.

This somewhat resembles Amaltheus margaritatus of De
Montfort,

t.

23, p. 91.

much consequence

The

place of the siphuncle

in distinguishing

middle of the inner margin.

them, as his

is

is

of

in the


AMMONITES

Walcotii.

TAB. CVI.

Spec. Char.

Involute^ depressed; volutions four,

three-fourths exposed, with a concentrate fur-

row; lunate undulations over half the
front with a carii.a between

Aperture

oblong,

its

diameter of the shell

:

sides;

two furrows.

length equal to one-third of the

the sides are flatted

;

each whorl

is

divided into two parts by an obtuse furrow; the inner half
is

nearly smooth, the other marked by semi-lunar depressions.

This species

is

much

spread about;

ginous marly Limestone from near B;ith
near Cardiff by favour of Miss Hill

I

It is

at

The

it

in ferru-

—from Llantrissant
— and from White

abundant in clayey Ironstone or

Colebrook dale, with blend or black Sul-

phuret of Zinc, and included in
aceous or

have

have specimens marked Devonshire

Lackington Park.

and River Trent.
black marie

I

Alum Clay

balls in the

species generally runs from

diameter; the shell

is

dark pyrit-

Whitby.

at

two

to four inches in

laminated and scaly, composed of

two, three or more coats, and rather deep, yet the sutures

of the septa continue to near the outside, and the form

is

the same throughout the cast, diflPering from the outside

depth of the furrow.

ornament or pattern only

in the greater

The

by various crystallizations of Carmore solid or earthy, and more

insides are divided

bonate of

Lime

or Iron, or


8
or

less distinct in

the divisions or chambers, agreeably to

the nature of the stratum in which the specimens are found.

The

section figured

several varieties of

and

the divisions

was cut rather
culus

is

in

from a Bath specimen, and shows

more or

irregularly,

less perfect, or obliterated, as

and the double

some places very

very conspicuous
shell

is

compact earthy marie, dendritical, &c.

in

line

unintelligible;

many specimens

just

it

of the siphun-

it

is,

however,

under the thin

of the keel, and appears to be nearly continuous.

Walcot's figure (Bath Petrifactions,

fig.

41, p. 32) appears

a worn specimen, the inner whorls being destitute of transverse costae.

Its foliated sutures are

sometimes more distinct.


.

9

AMMONITES

angulatus.

TAB. CYIL— Fig.

1.

Involute; volutions six or more,
Spec. Char.
radii
exposed, angular at the back \vithin

prominent, split over the front, commencing
in the cast from a narrow concave space.
;

Ihe

aperture

is

rather longer than wide,

one-fifth the diameter of tlie shell

angle at the mner part of

;

whorl

tlie

width

equals^

a narrow concave

is

commence

space, from the outer part of which
this angle

its

around the concentric

and the concave space are

indistinct

the radii:

on the out-

side of the shell.
I received this, I think, rare

and curious specimen from

Whitby Alum Clay, by favour of Mr. J. M. Sowerby,
among various other specimens. The line at the inner
the

part

is

apparently only in the cast, the small shelly part

remaining on the specimen being destitute of

it.

The

shell

appears to be replaced by a mixture of pyrites, Carbonate
of Iron, and

Limey

marie, but more stony within.

The

sinuated margins of the septa are rather close, but not particular or very distinct

;

if

than in the A. communis.

any thing they are more acute
I

have not seen

the.

siphuncle

or plains of the septa, but I presume they bear a close

resemblance to the following.

between

this species

Indeed the resemblance

and communis

is

the internal angle were not observed,
external appearance,

expect

it

approach
laminated.

is

so general, that if
it

be considered as

would, from
tlie

its

same, yet I

always more ovate in the opening, with an

to a flattish front.

The

The

shell

seems somewhat

forked divisions in the front of the shell

turn upwards in both

10

AMMONITES

communis.

TAB. CYlh—Figs,

2,

and

3.

Char.
Involute; volutions six or more,
exposed; radii annular, prominent^ split over
the front; aperture circular.
Syn. Corne d' Amnion a raies doublecs vers le haut
du dos. JBourguet, ^c. pi. 42. /. 276.
Spec.

liiE aperture about

The

which

radii,

one-fifth the diameter of the shell.

commence

in the cast

quite at the inside

of each whorl, are continued nearly straight to the round
front, over

which they are sometimes forked and sometimes

divided and united a^ain on the opposite side.

This species, varying a

Alum Clay

Whitby;

at

little,
is

it

very

is

TIic

careous marie, sliining with pyrites.

common

called in

counted

common

in

the

mostly dark coloured cal-

Ammonites are

Snake-stones, and superstition has ac-

having been found constantly without

for their

heads, saying, the curse of St. Cuthbert was the cause of

but as

it;

some of the dealers

they were determined to be

a possible inconvenience,

barbarous, and compassion-

some with heads.

ately supplied
sire to see

felt it

less

I

what sort of heads might be

was so curious
substituted,

Wilson kindly procured me a specimen when
I

have figured that specimen

see fig. 2.

called

The

beatiful

as to de-

and Lady

at AV^hitby.

for the information of others;

Keynsham Ammonites

are also

Snake-stones, having been ch;uiged into stone

some devotee

for the benefit of his brethren.

Fig.

3

by
is

a

small specimen, showing something of the section and sep-

tum, which

by

is

nearly round, exclusive of the space occupied

the inner whorl.

This species
phites of Plott.

is

perhaps among the

fossil

Ophiopomor-

11

AMMONITES
TAB.

Spec. Char.

;

CVIII.

volutions

Involute,

nearly concealed

Nutfieldiensis.

radii

four

more,

or

numerous, prominent,

with shorter intermediate ones over the rounding front.

OEPTA

Aperture obcordate.

rather numerous, elegantly lobed

the usual

way;

undulations^ are often in pairs;

way

and sinuated

in

the intermediate shorter radii^ or rather

they extend nearly half

over the sides: the longer radii are most prominent

near the centre.

The mouth

is

two-fifths of the diameter in

length, and about the same in width

;

the front rounded.

Plentiful in the green Sandstone, above the greater beds

of Fullers Earth in which the fine-coloured Sulphate of
Barytes, Brit. Min. tab. 237,

is

imbedded.

three inches to a foot in diameter, if I

specimens which vary a
species has
to

little

in the radii.

two or three short ones

in a set,

have radii regularly the whole length

also

appear

to

It is

may

found from

include some

The

present

but some appear

all

round.

be more compressed, others rounder.

Some
The

specimens are chiefly casts in dark Irony clay, ochraceous
externally, and have sandy Quartz and Chlorite about them.

A

specimen which

green sand

is

I

have

lately received

the same species.

from Hythe

in

15

MUREX

striatus.

TAB. CIX.

Var.

(carinaius) havi.ig three or four

a

more

projections

tranSYert;

of the
than

promiiient

the restj especially the upper ones.
—

HERE have

J.

and

«
"l

<l>

fcL

—

been found recent shells very similar to

same

bearini; the

relalion to

M.

despectus, Penn.) as this does to

such appears

M.

be the

to

ajitiijnus,

my

IM. striatus, fab. 22,

Penn.

carmatus,

have a

J

recent specimen somoAvhat carinated, and anions: a

of Fossil ones a complete

this,

Jinn. (M.

series is easily selected.

number
These

Fossils

have often been
recent

M.

carinatus, but

tions of the spire
all

the varieties

more

M.

like

and the

an attentive view of the proporlast

the recent

:

whorl

will readily distinguish

one having a longer spire,

contrarius, tab. 25.

which

also

is

liable to

the same carinated variation of form, but in a less degree

and more

rarely.

riety with the

from the same

and

figured,

have endeavoured

I

younger
pit as

M.

shell,

striatus

which the

A^ith

arranged in pairs.

I

and M. contrarius, formerly

least carinated

Fig.

most

all

is

is

friends.

a moderate sized specimen

(he projections rather broad

more regular
beak

;

and

elongated

;

ones had been

have also had great variety from the

Rev. G. R. Leathes and other Suffolk
1

to siiow some vaby Mrs. Cobbold

selected

in fig.
fig.

5

is

;

;

fig,

in fig.

2 shows

al-

3 they are

4 they are monstrous, and the
a

young

shell.

;

15

BUCCINUM,
Gen. Char. Univalve;

Linn, &c.

spiral; oval ^ or elongated

oblongs with a

aperture nearly longitudinal^
reflected sinus at

the base of the columella.

Columella plain^ tumid.

BUCCINUM

elongatum.

TAB. CX,—Fig,
Spec. Char.

1.

traasversely

Shell ovate-elongated,

whorls seven, rather convex, longi-

striated;

tudinally undulated; outer lip obscurely cre-

mouth

nulated within;

curved

Twice

oval with a short re-

sinus.

as long; as wide, the aperture

half the length

;

tolerably regular

are less uniform

the undulations

upon

tlie lesser

and straight; upon the

and more curved

;

rather less than

is

last

whorls are

whorl they

the inner lip

is

smooth,

thicker at the base.

Some doubts may be

entertained, of this being a trifling

undatum of

variety of B.

Li?7n. with greater regularity in

we know how much the B. undatum
respect
indeed it is with much uncertainty
The length of the spire
as another species.

the undulations, since
varies in that
I give

may

it

here

:

perhaps distinguish

elongatum,

it,

wherefore I

Mr. Herbert brought

Soken Crag-pits, Essex,

in 1810.

this shell
I

donot

have called

it

from Walton

le

at present

know of

another specimen, but would recommend further search to

be made after

fossils so

nearly related to recent shells.

It is


:

16
a curious circumstance, that not long since,
the Rev.

W.

distorted recent
strosity)

me

BiiigL-y, presented

specimen (perhaps

twice as Ion

as the lower whorl,

i,

should

I

of Buccinum undatum with

my kind

friend,

with a remarkably
call

it

a

mon-

a very elongated spire,

and with a single

spiral

rounded ridge embossed on the upper part of it.

BUCCINUM

rugosum.

TAB. ex.— F«>.
"b
Spec. Char.

3.

Shell ovate-elorsgated, obtuse^ trans-

versely striated

angles; whorls

;

spire with twelve or fourteen
five,

prominent; aperture ob-

ovate^ latter whorl rugged.

A-PERTURE

about one-third the length of the

shell, rather

broadest at the lower part, the sinus in the beak scarcely

recurved;

the angles on the spire are large undulations,

something like those on B. undatum, but more elevated

and

regular.

thick,

The apex

of the

spire

is

truncated and

showing that the egg must have been rather

large.

Received from Holywell, by favour of Mrs. Cobbold
specimens are found of various

and

sizes,

sometimes quite white,

often stained with ochre, especially in the hollow parts,

prettily relieving the projections.

great resemblance to

Murex

the canal in the beak.

Its

general form bears a

rugosus, tab. 34, but

it

want*


;

ir

BUCCINUM

reticosum.

TAB. ex.— Fig.

Spec. Char.

Shell

^.

oblong-ovate,

acute,

reticu-

lated; whorls six, with the upper and lower

rounded and

parts

sides

flattish

:

outer

lip

toothed within.

1 HE

reticulated surface of this shell very

the impression of

by

some coarse

cloth

;

it

is

much

resembles

prominent, formed

striae,

crossing numerous longitudinal,

rather acute undulations;

the transverse stri» approach

strong transverse

in pairs,

the

and are twice as numerous as the undulations:

mouth

is

an oval, pointed at the upper end, and with

a recurved sinus at the lower.

shell

is

less

The

greatest width of the

than half the length, and equal to the length

of the aperture

:

the outer lip

is

tooihed and striated within

inner lip plane, covering the columella.

Mrs. Cobbold favoured

cimen from Holywell ;

it is

me

with this well-preserved spe-

an handsome-formed shelL


;

18

BUCCINUM

granulatum.

TAB. ex.—Fig.

Spec.

Char.

striated J

Shell

4.

pointed^

ovate,

transverselj

and with twenty longitudinal rows of

tubercles;

outer lip thickened,

many -toothed

within.

This
striae

has about four rather swelling whorls
are

many

between the

;

arranged in longitudinal

tubercles

little

ridges, sometimes larger on the

upper edge of the whorl

at the ui)per part of the inner lip

is

site to

one in the outer

lip, as to

a tooth so placed oppo-

form with

it

an apparent

sinus, corresponding, but smaller, with that at the base of

the columella.

The

aperture

is

obovate; edge of the outer

lip rather straightened in the middle; the sinus at the base
is

a

little

curved.

A pretty little shell,

which

varies

from

less

to nearly three quarters of an inch in length.

favoured with very
friend.

perfect

It closely resembles

tinguished,

by

specimens by

than a quarter
I

have been

my

Ipswich

B. macula, but may be

dis-

the longitudinal rows of tubercles or granules.


j

19

OSTREA

CXh— Figs.

TAB.

Spec. Char.
plaits

gregarea.

and

1

3.

Clustered, oblong, curved, plaited

many, rugged, diverging from a longi-

tudinal plait or sulcus

;

valves unequally con-

vex, beaks produced and curved.

A II E

lower valve

and more or

less

is

usually more concave than the other,

carinated

the general form of the shell

;

very variable, nevertheless
that

side

in

which

plaits are often

vary

lies

it

constantly curves towards

The

the muscular impression.

branched near their commencement; they

in length, several not reaching the central line; those

There are no vestiges of

in the hollow side are smallest.

cars

is

by the

sides

of the hinge,

the pit of

central concavity in the lower valve,

which has a

and a corresponding

convexity iu the other, characters which distinguish this

from the plaited Oyster found
is

The shell

in the green Sand.

rather slender, especially towards the edges.

Immense masses of

these shells have been found near

Devizes : they are of a greyish colour, and so
tached to each other, that
valves,

has

fine

and

it is

much

pairs nearly detached are rare.

Mr,

Sheffield

specimens, which he was so good as to lend

am

for others I

stone often

fills

the outsides.

indebted to Mrs. Gent.
the insides,

at-

difficult to distinguish the

A

and sometimes

me;

greyish Lime-

partially covert


20
The
at

fi.;.

upper valve, of Avbich two

lar<2;e

3,

is filled

with Jroi:

it

figures arc given

with a similar stone superficially stained

seems to correspond in some respects with

was sent me
bj the Rev. Mr. Steinhauer, from the upper Coral rag, at
Westbrook, near Melksham, Wilts.
Delamarck's description of O.

pectiiiftta

:

it

All the species of Oysters are so variable in their contour,
that

it is

dithcult from description to determine them.

OSTREA

CXh— Fig,

TAB.
Spec. Char.

palmetta.

2.

Ovate-roundish^ obscurely one-eared,

depressed, with a plaited margin; plaits diverg-

ing from a longitudinal space

This

shell

is

but slightly curved,

are few and more irregular than

prove to be a variety

Found

in

in

a

young

in

it

;

beaks straight.

is flatter

O. gregarea, but

soil

plaits

it

may

state.

Mr.rston field, near Oxford,

in a somewhat redder

and the

bj Mr. Baker,

than the preceding.

The upper

valve easily separated, and

allowed the inside of the other

there

was but a small piece of eartk

to be properly seen

in

it.

;


21

GRYPHtEA,

A

Gen. Char.

(except

free

unequal -yalvedj

Delamurck.

when very young)
bivalve

iiieqi ilateral

larger

;

valve iiivolutely curved^ concavej lesser valve
flattishj

Hinge a transversely

beakless.

striated

containing an internal ligament^ without

pitj

teeth or crenatures.

1 HE

lamellar structure of the Grj^phites and their texture

much

is

the

also of the

same

as

that of the Ostracites, the

Delamarck a distinguishing
sufficient,

I

others

leave

cliaracter;

to judge.

and the concavity of the smaller valve

Tlie length of most of the species

width

;

is

how far this is
The general per-

pendicularity of the hinge, the restriction on
side,

hiiiij^e

same nature; but the general form has afforded

the larger

and lower valve

is

dually curved into a large, more or

is

may

tlie

right

assist.

greater than the

very concave, graless

involute beak,

along which runs one side of the pit holding the hinge
cartilage:

valve

is

this side

flat

is

consequently curvcl.

the part \o which the hinge cartilage
valve,

is flat

nearly

flat

and j.erpendicular.
and attached

to

is

lesser

grown they

attached in this

The very young

shells are

other bodies, of which they

take the impression, through both valves;

full

The

or convex within, and forms a kind of lid;

lose their attachment,

when they

are

and the impression

eemains upon the beak of one valve and upon that part of


22
the other valve which
far
is

removed.

I

met it when

it

was young, altliough now

have a specimen, upon the beak of wliich

the concave impression of a Cardium,

and

convex

a

impression upon the lid;* their correspondence appears at
first difficult

to understand, but they prove, that

are no more free shells than Ostreac.
ent appearance of full

grown

discerning Delamarck.

The

by

Gryphaae

The otherwise independ-

shells,

deceived the great and

right side

often distinguished

is

an obscure lobe or sulcus.

These
trified

shells

seem generally more changed than most pe-

Oysters, and the lamina are

Fragments,

divided.

distinguished from those of Oysters.
at present that

tum

I

do not quite know

I

have received Ostrea

fj^om the

as the Grypha?cB, yet the former are

same

abundant

in

stra-

many

We conceive, that a knowledge of the different spe-

places.
cies of

tender and less

less

however, are often with difficulty

Gryphaa

will

be of some importance in identifying

formations, as they appear to occur in

have them

in the

blue and white Lias

particularly in the Clay

which

;

many

places.

I

in the great Oolite,

intersects

its

beds

;

in the

Clunch Clay, the Kellaway Limestone, &c. and from the
following places; Weston, near Bath; Purton Passageferry,

in

the

mud

;

Frethern

;

Weymouth

;

Kadipole

Kellaway; Elveston, near Bedford; Norton-Disney,

;

in

Lincolnshire; Kettering, in Northamptonshire; Birdbrook,
in Essex; Strontian, in Argylehire;

and

Belfast.

* I have a recent Oyster adhering to a Pecten, which has the impression
of the ribs of the Pecten through both valves in a similar way, although a
quarter of aa inch or more in depth also some specimens of Anomia ephippium of LinntFus, wliich are larger, (^being always an adherent ihell, and
when on tlie common Oyster not appearing particular) but the ribs or
I had
strife being thus formed, gives them a sort of specific difference.
this long since, through the generosity of Miw Pocock, gathered near
:

MarazioB.


23

GRYPH^A

incurva.

TAB. CXIL— Figs,

S?EC. Char.

1

and

2.

Elongated, very involute, right side

an obscure lobe, lesser valve oblong, externally
concave.

Sys. Parkinson, Org. Bern. vol. III. p. 209,
f.

So

Walcot's Bath Fossils,

3.

great

is

f.

;

when

visible

it is

The

showing any impression,

curvature
half.

much

The

laminated and rather rugose.

widening gently towards the round

widened

hinge, where

The

fig.

Gloucestershire,

surface

very thick.

The

1,

is

is

sides are straight,

The

front.

lid is

towards the front and truncated

it is

is

very regular,

is

at

obthe

curvature of the beak

sometimes, but rarely, oblique at the apex.

specimen,

N.

generally sharp, seldom

extending about one turn and an

is

34, p. 51

XV.

the curve of this that the point of the beak

often concealed

long,

t.

The upper

from the Lias near Frethern,

in

by favour of Thomas Meade, Esq. Iti
mark of attachment, which,

incurvation seems to hide the

however,

My

will

kind

favoured

me

many of the genus.
Thomas Walford, Esq. long since

be found distinct in

friend,

with the curious gregareous specimen,

from Birdbrook, Essex;

it

CorubrasU at Chatley, &c.

resembles some

I

fig. 2.

have from th»