Notice of the Occurence of an Elytron of a Coleopterous Insect in the Kimmeridge Clay at Ringstead Bay, Dorsetshire

Abstract

Although the occurrence of a single Elytron of a Coleopterous Insect scarcely appears at first sight worthy of attention, yet, since the discovery of remains of Insects in any stratum or fresh locality may lead other observers to obtain additional forms of Insect life from rocks as yet unproductive in this respect, and thereby give us an insight into the characters of those which flourished at such particular epoch, it appears desirable to record this discovery of an Elytron in the Kimmeridge Clay on the coast of Dorset*. Geologists are now generally well acquainted with the fine section afforded by the cliffs at Ringstead bay, near Weymouth, formerly well known as “the burning cliff.” In the upper part of the cliff, not far from its junction with the Portland Sand, the Kimmeridge Clay is traversed by a bed of yellow, sandy, laminated stone, about 2 feet thick, containing Fish-scales and teeth of a species of Hybodus , which reminded me strongly in its lithological characters of the “fish bed” in the Upper Lias. This is succeeded by thick strata of dark-coloured shale and clay, containing large blocks of septaria, in one of which I discovered a striated Elytron of a small Beetle. Many shells are dispersed throughout these argillaceous beds, among which may be enumerated several species of Ammonites , with the bright pearly lustre beautifully preserved, Cardium , Arca , Leda , Orbicula , Lingula , and Aptychus , &c. Lower down there are some smaller nodules of limestone, which afford several minute species of Univalves and