Outlines of Geology » 189 



and here the verlicalihj of certain strata in the neighbourhood, 

 which are usually horizontal, and which here exhibit traces of 

 having been horizontal^ are not among the least remarkable of the 

 phenomena which this district exhibits. Headon Hill, situate at 

 the west end of the Isle of Wight, in Alum Bay, is about four 

 hundred feet high, and exhibits, towards the ocean, a curious and 

 distinct section of its strata. Its base, as there seen, is a fine 

 white sand, which may be traced into Totland and Colvill Bays on 

 the north, and which, from its purity, is in great request among 

 the manufacturers of flint glass. 



Upon this is a bed of gray clay, in which selenite and fossil 

 shells occur, and which supports the lower fresh-water formation 

 of this district ; that is, it has lying upon it a series of marles, 

 some of which appear to consist of fragments of shells, with a few 

 entire portions, from which their species have been ascertained. 

 To this succeeds another stratum, containing sea- shells in great 

 abundance and perfection, and separated by' a bed of sand a few 

 inches thick, from the upper fresh-water formation, composed of 

 a marie, abounding in fresh- water shells, and covered by the al- 

 luvium, which forms the summit of the hill *. 



Having now adverted to a few of the most remarkable facts re- 

 lating to the uppermost strata of alluvial matters, it may, perhaps 

 be expected that I should consider the various discussions to which 

 they have given rise, and the opinions that have been maintained 

 respecting the origin of such strange events as are thus presented 

 to us at our very entrance upon the examination of the earth's 

 strata. 



It has been frequently argued, that the deluge is quite suffici- 

 ent to explain all the remarkable assemblages of the remains of 

 birds, beasts, fish, and vegetables, we have just had occasion to 

 notice ; and to account for the occurrence of the elephant, the cro- 

 codile, and other animals of that description in these northern 

 parts of our hemisphere, it has been conceived, that they were 

 washed from tropical climates, and brought to us by a great and 



• Vide Webster, in GeoL r/an«.,and Sir H.Englefield's Description of 

 (he hie of Wight, 



