LETTERS FROM JOHN BROWN TO S. P. WOODWARD. 133
Stanway, Novr. 7th, 1842.
Since you were at Stanway, I have collected a few species (sic) of Acme
fusca, Helix lamellata, and what I thought was H. fulva, but you call
spinulosa. You say in your last letter that neither Mr. Wood nor Mr.
Morris has any of these shells. I, therefore, shall be happy to send them
through your hands to those gentlemen. You can divide them as you
please, not forgetting yourself if you are in need.
The price of the barrel of oysters that I sent to your friend at Dereham
is six shillings, but that can be settled when we meet.
The part of the Copford deposit from whence I collected your shells
is, doubtless, recent, all the shells being such ; and among others I have
collected Physa hypnorum, but in a sub-fossil state. The shells are per-
fectly white, having lost all their animal matter, and are remarkably
tender and fragile; and this upper part of the deposit is more recent
than either the Clacton or Grays formation, but not so the lower beds.
The latter are of the same age as the freshwater deposits of Clacton and
Grays.
The great hollow that contains the Copford deposit appears to have
occupied centuries to fill it up—nay, many centuries; for Mammalia were
in existence when the lower beds were forming that are extinct now, and
were not in existence when the two feet of clay and peaty matter were
forming, and of which I collected the shells that are the subject of this
letter, and which I will send immediately after I have ascertained the
safest method.
I have found Pupa substriata amongst the Copford fluviatile drift,
which I shall send with the others.
Stanway, Novr. 12th, 1842.
Should you feel inclined for a trip during the Xmas holidays, and
can find time, you shall find a ready welcome here. I generally have a
domestic circle on Xmas day, and after that I am more at home with
those that love grubbing for fossil bones, snail hunters, and stone breakers,
etc.; and among that group you will be admitted with a cordial welcome.
I have much pleasure in sending you subfossil shells from the Copford
deposit. I shall leave you to distribute them as you think fit among your
friends, and when you want any more for them, I should be most happy
to supply you.
Stanway, Novr. 25th, 1842.
I received a letter of thanks from the Geol. Society for the shells
which I, with great pleasure, sent you to distribute as you pleased; but I
understood that you wanted them chiefly for private friends. Hal I
thought that you would present them to the Geol. Socy. I would have
sent a quantity more worthy of their acceptance, and it is still my intention
to do so. I will send a suite of all the, species found in the Copford deposit,
with a new Section; for, at the time I sent the one you alluded to in
one of your letters, this part of the deposit was not discovered. The
cuttings for En. Co.'s Railway has laid this interesting bed open.
It is my intention also to prepare a suite for the British Museum;
thanks to you for the suggestion.
The small Cyrena, which you allude to in your letter, I think must
have come from Grays. I do not remember ever seeing any in the Clacton
deposit. Ask Mr. Searls Wood whether he has met with any. He has
studied that deposit quite as much, if not more than I have.
Many thanks for your kind offer of what species of recent shells I have
not. When I have the pleasure of your company here, you can see. what
species are wanting. I am almost ashamed to ask my friend Hall for
more shells. He has already been very liberal to me in that respect.