90 



loner-shore currents are washed on to the shore bv the 

 "swash" following the breaking of the off-shore waves. 

 Hence the slope of the sand-beach will be comparatively 

 gentle and uniform. 



Where the drift contains boulders, these are usually left by 

 the waves on the beach, a feature well illustrated in many of 

 of the sections, particularly that of the old gorge of the 

 Idlewood River. In such instances it frequently happens 

 that shore ice will transport some of these blocks, which 

 mav eventually come to rest at the foot of a cliff, where 

 there are other blocks, derived from the cliff itself. Thus, 

 Corniferous limestone boulders from the drift, have been 

 mingled with the blocks of Encrinal limestone from the 

 cliffs at various portions along the shore, and there is 

 danger of mistaking the former for the latter, unless this 

 fact is borne in mind. Blocks and slabs of shaly limestone 

 mav also be frequently found projecting from, or lying on 

 drift covered banks, and the fossils contained in these, differ 

 from those found in the adjoining cliffs. Such rock masses 

 are commonly derived from the Corniferous limestone in the 

 northern part of Erie County. 



At Stony Point, about three miles north of the Bay View- 

 cliff, Corniferous limestone boulders are exceedingly abund- 

 ant on the beach. With them occur boulders of Niagara 

 limestone, brought by the ice from Niagara County, as well 

 as boulders of Waterlime from North Buffalo. These 

 boulders constitute a portion of an old glacial moraine, 

 which can be traced inland to West Seneca, where it is cut 

 by the railroads, and exhibits the limestone blocks in the 

 unconsolidated banks. The name "Limestone Ridge" which 

 has been applied to this moraine, is derived from the 

 presence of these limestone boulders. 



Sand dunes are found at a great many places along the 

 shore of Lake Erie. They are commonly low, but occa- 

 sionally, as in the Crystal Beach dunes on the Canadian 



