A HISTORY OF SUSSEX
all those species which are quoted from the Hastings Natural History above referred to are distinguished by an asterisk thus (*)
Another source, whence a considerable and substantial addition to the present list of the fauna of this coast has been made, is a publication entitled The Natural History of Brighton, by Mrs. Merrifield. Some time has elapsed since the appearance of this book, but there is no reason to suppose that the fauna has since undergone much alteration in character. The whole of the species quoted in the following lists as occurring at Brighton (unless otherwise stated) which have been derived from this little work are distinguished by a dagger mark thus (†)
Only those species which have come within the personal ken of the present writer have received descriptive accounts.
A great proportion of the specimens referred to hereafter have been obtained from the Diamond Ground off Hastings, a considerable area of which consists of sand, but some parts of it are rough ground. Masses of rock, each weighing several hundredweight, are frequently brought up in the trawl. These blocks of stone are the hard, resisting residue left from the demolition of the Wealden rocks, which constitute the coast line between the chalk downs of Eastbourne on the west and those of Folkestone on the east. The softer clays and sandstones being readily disintegrated, leave the hard ironstones to continue a longer existence. Nearer the downs on either hand are found masses of Cherty Greensand and large flints derived from the Chalk.
A section of the Channel, due south of Hastings, shows a gradual slope attaining to a depth, at fifteen miles from shore, of twenty fathoms, rapidly deepening to thirty fathoms, which depth is maintained for about ten miles; after that there is a slight and gradual rise toward mid-channel.
The Diamond Ground, from the fisherman's point of view, commences at about the twenty-five fathom line, up to which point the ground is of a more or less rough description, and beyond this line it appears to extend for a somewhat unlimited distance. To the westward of Beachy Head, or the West Diamond Ground, as it is called, the ground is rough.
Off Rye and Dungeness there is mainly sand, but some six or seven miles from shore there is a deep deposit of mud extending in an easterly and westerly direction, called by the fishermen the Trail, and much frequented by certain kinds of fish. Still further on, rocky ground is met with, known as the East Shoal or Gringer Shoal. From the above short description therefore it will be inferred that the diversified character of the sea-bottom off Hastings affords a suitable ground for the varied and rich fauna which it possesses.
In the preparation of the present article, recourse has been had amongst other works to the following; and in the case of the Hydroid Zoophytes and the Polyzoa the nomenclature of Hincks has been adopted, whilst in the Mollusca the list of the Conchological Society has been followed.
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