Slowly the calm sea ebbs. As the pulse of the great ocean beats, its glassy ribbon-waves flow swellingly along in long thin lines, and then drain rapidly away. Every now and then, with higher swelling motion, one wavelet ripples further in, leaving us doubtful for a moment of the tide's recess. But gently, surely are those slippery rocks unveiled, and on their smooth and purple flats the glittering fossils lie.

There, in their radiant iridescence in scores are pearly Ammonites. A. lautus, A. splendens, A. auritus, A. tuberculatus, and the little ribbed and everywhere bestrewn A. varicosus.

There hundreds of amber-like translucent Belemnites (B. Listen) protrude their spine-like forms from the dark blue solid clay.

Curled Hamites, small nut-shaped Nuculœ (N. pectinata and N. ovata), spiny Rostellariœ, Pterocera, and Naticæ, and black phosphatic caste of antique forms of crabs and prawns, and little stud- and cup-like corals await your gathering. Everything to your hand, resplendent as the sea has left them for you. Every here and there the smallest portion of some shell or crab reveals the untouched treasure buried underneath. Pick, trowel, knife, anything will dig into that moist yielding clay, or cut your treasure out. Patience and care are all you want.