LULWORTH COVE.

185

Finding, from the nature of the coast, that the strata could besuccessfully examined only from the sea, I continued my walk:along the north side of these hills to West Lulworth, from whenceI could afterwards make excursions.

The village of West Lulworth (PI. XXXVIII.) is pleasinglysituated in the bottom of a deep valley, a few miles west of thecastle of the same name ; and is much frequented in the summerseason by parties of pleasure, who come from Weymouth bywater, to view the very singular bay called Lulworth cove,which is about a quarter of a mile below the village.

This cove (PI. XXXVIII. and XXXIX.) has been formedin the same manner, and in the same strata, as that of Worthbarrow. Its shape is three quarters of a circle. The curiouslybent Purbeck strata, resting on the oolite, compose the rocks atthe entrance ; the innermost part of the cove being hollowed outof the chalk hill. The strata on each side correspond exactly;the chalk and sands being nearly vertical, and the Purbeck stonehighly inclined.

In this beautiful bay, which is about thirteen hundred feet indiameter, vessels of above a hundred tons burthen may at all timesremain in the most perfect security; nor is it possible to imaginea place better contrived for shelter. A copious and transparentspring bursts out from a cavern just below the village, and afterturning a mill, flows into the sea at the cove, dhe rock fromwhich the water issues is composed wholly of sharp fragmentsof flints imbedded in chalk rubble, which appears to have beencemented together by stalactitical depositions.

I was not a little surprised to find the nature and o*der of the

strata of the cove correspond so exactly with that which I had

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