Supposed Imprints in the Lower Cambrian Beds of the Isle of man

Abstract

The good example which has been set us by Mr. Salter to look out for traces of mechanical and vital agencies in the Cambrian beds is worthy to be followed by every brother of the hammer; and instead of waiting, like Micawber, for “something to turn up,” to set heartily to work and turn up the stones for ourselves. It is well known what good work Mr. Salter has done in the Cambrians of the Longmynd, towards clearing up the circumstances under which those rocks were deposited, as well as in tracing the remains of their ancient life; but much remains to be done ere this formation is as well known as the others. One thing, however, is certain, that the Cambrians and the Drift are at present the “lions” of the geological world, so that the study need not suffer on the ground of unpopularity.Being out one day (during a recent visit to the Isle of Man), at Dalby, where the Cambrian rocks are quarried for flags by a newly-formed slate-company, I observed that many of the slabs were most decidedly ripple-marked. This is, I believe, the first time that such appearances have been observed in the island; indeed, with the exception of some doubtful fucoids, no fossils have been met with in these beds.