On some further Discoveries of Flint Implements in the Gravel near Bedford
Authors: Wyatt James 
Published: October 2009

Since Mr. Prestwich described the occurrence of flint implements near Bedford (Geol. Soc. Journ. No. 67, p. 366), Mr. Wyatt, Mr. Nail, the Rev. Mr. Hillier, and Mr. Berrill have added seven or eight to the list, from the gravel-pits at Cardington, Harrowden, Biddenham, and Kempston.

Mr. J. G. Jeffreys, F.G.S., having examined Mr. Wyatt's further collections of shells from the gravel-pits at Biddenham and Harrowden, has determined seventeen other species besides those noticed by Mr. Prestwich; and among these is
Hydrobia marginata
(from the Biddenham Pit), which has not been found alive in this country. At Kempston, Mr. Wyatt has examined the sand beneath the gravel (which is destitute of shells), and at 3 feet in the sand (19 feet from the surface) he found
Helix, Succinea, Bythinia, Pupa, Planorbis
, &c., with a flint implement. The upper gravel contained several flint flakes.

Mr. J. Gwyn Jeffreys, F.R.S., F.G.S., having had the shells submitted to him, says,—

“I have carefully examined and assorted the shells sent to me by Mr. Wyatt from the ]tarrowden and Biddenham Pits, and I find that they belong to the following species (distinguished by H. & B. respectively):—

H. B. Sphærium eorneum,
Linn.
(
Cyclas cornea
of authors.)

H.B. Pisidium nitidum,
Jenyns.

H.B. — Henslowanum,
Jenyns.

H. — —, monstr. (
P. sinuatum
, Normand.)

B. Bythinia tentacutata,
Müller.

H.B. Valvata piscinalis,
Müll.

B. — cristata,
Müll.

B. Hydrobia marginata. (
Paludina marginata
, Michaud.)

B. Succinea putris,
Linn.

H. — —, dwarf var. resembling
S. oblonga
, Drap.

H. B. Helix hispida,
Müll.

H.B. — pulehella,
Müll.

B. — concinna,
Jeffr.

H.B. Pupa marginata,
Drap.

H.B. Planorbis glaber,
Jeffr.
(Ranging from Sweden to Madeira.)

H.B. — vortex,
Linn.

H. — leucostoma,
Michaud.
(
P. spirorbis
of some authors.)

B. — nautileus,
Lighffoot.

B. — marginatus,
Müll.

H. Limnæa peregra,
Müll.

H.B. — auricularia,
Linn.
, var. acuta,
Jeffr.

H. B. — stagnalis, Linn. (Var.
Helix fragilis
, Montagu.)

H. B. — truncatula,
Müll.

H. — —, dwarf var.

H. — palustris,
Drap.

H. B. Aneylus fluviatilis,
Müll.

B. — oblongus,
Müll.

“The nature and condition of the shells from the Harrowden Pit show that, in all probability, the area formed part of the site of a large lake or piece of fresh water, having a sandy bottom and banks; that it was situated very near an estuary or flat sea-shore; and that a small stream flowed into the lake at its upper end from a hill of considerable eminence. The lake must have had waterplants in it and rushes or flags (
Iris pseudacorus
) at its margin. I assume that all the shells came from one and the same stratum.

“The area of the Biddenham Pit did not apparently form part of the site of the same lake as at Harrowden; but it was, in all probability, a smaller piece of water, with more weeds in it. In other respects, as well as in its being the receptacle of a small stream, the conditions appear to have been the same. I take for granted in this case also that all the shells last named came from only one stratum. It may be a question as to whether both these pieces of water existed at the same time. This must in some measure depend on the relative position of the fossiliferous strata in each of the pits in which the shells were found. The occurrence of
Hydrobia marginata
in the Biddenham Pit is interesting. See Sir Charles Lyell's Paper in the Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society “On the Crag Districts of Norfolk and Suffolk,” and the Appendix to Searles Wood's ‘Monograph on the Crag Mollusea,’ published by the Palæontographical Society. I lately noticed it in the freshwater bed at Mundesley, while in company with Mr. Prestwich. It has never been found alive in this country.”