160 Rev. W. D. Conybeare on the Landslip of the 



less in one that is always superior. The injurious effect which 

 it would experience from the elevated temperature, would be 

 greater in proportion to the density of the surrounding me- 

 dium. It has been ascertained by observation, that animals 

 of a low temperature, can endure, in certain cases, a constant 

 ambient heat much greater than that which warm-blooded ani- 

 mals could resist for any great length of time. Thus, certain 

 fishes living in thermal springs, the temperature of which 

 rises to 104° F. (40° C). Even a higher temperature is assigned 

 to some of the springs in which fishes live, but we may be per- 

 mitted to presume that there is some error in the observation. 



Extraordinarg Land-Slip and great Convulsion of the Coast of 

 Culverhole Point, near Axmouth, By the Rev. W. D. 

 Conybeare. 



The recent season of Christmas has been marked on the 

 neighbouring line of coast by a convulsion so remarkable, from 

 the extent, magnitude, and picturesque changes it has produced 

 in the surface and general configuration of a line of country, 

 extending at least a mile in length, by half a mile in breadth, 

 (including the farms of Dowlands and Great and Little Ben- 

 don), that I conceive some account of it cannot fail to be 

 acceptable. Although this convulsion can only be ascribed to 

 the less dignified agency of the land-springs constantly under- 

 mining the substrata ; yet in the grandeur of the disturbances 

 it has occasioned, it far exceeds the ravages of the earthquakes 

 of Calabria, and almost rivals the vast volcanic fissures of the 

 Val del Bove on the flanks of ^Etna. 



Convulsions of a similar nature have in former centuries 

 impressed on the whole line of coast between Lyme and Ax- 

 mouth, a character of wild and romantic picturesque combina- 

 tions of scenery scarcely rivalled in any other portion of the 

 British coast. The Undercliff in the south of the Isle of Wight, 

 affords another example of the similar effects resulting from 

 the agency of the same causes on rocks of the same geological 

 formations, and having a like position in relation to the line of 

 coast ; it may, however, be confidently asserted, that the Un- 



