EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES.

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layers of flints. The strata on the north side are horizontal, and at the junctionbetween both, the horizontal beds turn upwards in a curve towards the vertical beds,and rest upon them. Along this line of cliff are several detached masses of chalk,which being harder than the rest, have resisted the effect of the sea: some of theseare square, others round. Several large caverns have also been worn in the chalk.

See from page 165 to 168.

No. 2. Swamcich Bay from Peverel Point. T. W. del.

This view looks to the north ; and exhibits an oblique section of the range of chalkhills that extend from Ilandfast point through Corfe, and which compose the distance.

A very oblique view is also seen of the east (ace of Handfast point, represented in thelast plate. On examining these cliffs nearer, they are found to consist, at the easternextremity, of the chalk with flints, under which lies the chalk without flints, the chalkmarl, and the green sand; of the latter very little is seen. The lower and darkcoloured cliffs at the bottom of the bay are formed of the ferruginous sand series,here containing hard silicious grit stone, clay, shale, &c. In the left corner is part ofthe town of Swanwich, famous for its quarries of Purbeck stone which forms the tradeof this place. The quays are constantly covered with piles of stones prepared forpaving and other purposes ; and in the bay arc generally vessels for conveying themto different parts of England. Peverel point in the foreground occasioned the ship-wreck of the Danish fleet, consisting of 120 sail, in the year 877. bee pages 169, 171.

No. 3. Studland Bay, south side. T. W. del.

This view looks to the south, and shews another section of the chalk hills. The stratahere are nearly horizontal, dipping however a few degrees, and covered by others ofclay and ferruginous grit stone. The former are overgrown by bushes, but the latterform considerable cliffs, above which is seen the village of Studland surrounded bytrees. The bottom of this bay is a flat sand, and, except the entrance to Pooleharbour, is so extremely shallow, that only flat bottomed boats can land, lhe southside of the bay is also filled with chalk and other rocks. See pages 168, 169.

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Plate XXVII. Handfast Point, Dorsetshire . T. W . del. 1' ' ^

This view exhibits one of the most curious geological phenomena yet observed inthis country; and what is scarcely less extraordinary, it had hitherto entirely escapedobservation. No one had yet noticed strata of chalk quite vertical; and the curvedstrata resting upon these, with the peculiar state of the flinty nodules, have not onlyno parallel in this island, but in the present state of our knowledge cannot be

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