xviii EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES.

accounted for in a satisfactory manner. This singular appearance occurs at thesouthern part of the east face of this promontory, and can be well seen only from thesea, which probably has been one reason why it had not yet been observed. Thebest way to see this cliff is to take a boat from Swanwich to Studland bay. In veryfine weather it is easy to land on the small beach where the figures are placed, butthe surf usually runs high here. See page 166.

' P -

Plate XXVIII. Insulated rocks, Handfast Point. T. W. del. »

In passing along the east face of this headland, one is struck with the appearance ofseveral caverns worn in the chalk, some of which are of great size, and also with thenumerous indentations and vast buttresses that project from the clilf, giving thewhole somewhat of a mural character. Several insulated columns of chalk also riseout of the sea, and appear as if composed of immense separate stones piled on eachother ; some of these are square, others are round. The loftiest of the square ones,seen in this view, at the northern corner of the cliff, is commonly known in theneighbourhood, and to mariners, by the name of Old Harry rock. The sea is gene-rally of great depth very near to this cliff, but at this corner, there are many rockswhich render it somewhat dangerous to pass, but which add to the picturesque effectof the place by the agitation of the sea which they occasion, the towering columnsbeing always surrounded by breakers. See page 165 et seq.

Plate XXIX. No. 1. Stoanwich Bay, from the north side. T. W. del. *

This view is taken from the foot of the chalk cliffs seen in PI. XXVI. No. 2., thefragments of which compose the foreground ; and here the remarkable state of theshattered flints and green sand, mentioned pages 166, 167, 169, are best examined.Under A, in the distance, is Peverel point from which PI. XXVI. No. 2. wasdrawn. Under B, is seen part of the town of Swanwich which extends from theshore above a mile. In the hill over the town, and under the letters B, C, are thenumerous stone quarries. See page 169.

No. 2’. JJurlslone Bay. T. W. del.

This bay is seen immediately on turning round Peverel point, aud is remarkable onaccount of the curious contortions in the strata. In Peverel point, the strata dip tothe north, hence they crop out on the south side, and form high cliffs where theseveral beds may be distinctly seen; such is the cliff in the right corner of thisview under D. The mode of quarrying this stone is here represented; this is bymaking excavations aud inserting slight props ; in the course of time, these props