On the Origin of the Terraces, 8fc. 



185 



Yateshury Itectory, Calne, 

 October, 18G9. 



Alfred Charles Smith. 



ON THE 



of tlje Cljalli 5ofou0. 



By G. PoTJLETT ScEOPE, F.R.S., F.G.S., &c. 



^F the natural features of the county of Wilts, none perhaps 

 L'^^'ci ^^® ^^ prominent as its chalk downs. And they have con- 

 sequently attracted considerable notice from our local historians 

 and naturalists, from Aubrey down to the latest contributors to 

 this Magazine, in the last number of which alone two articles 

 describe their ancient earthworks and general character. But I 

 have vainly looked in any of these publications for a descriptive 

 account of what I consider to be some of the most remarkable 

 features of these chalk hills, viz. ; the numerous terraces, locally 

 called balks (banks ?) or lynchets (ledges ?), which frequently 

 score their slopes in more or less horizontal lines. These terraces 

 are perhaps most conspicuous between Mere and Hindon, and near 

 to Warminster and Market Lavington, but are indeed to be met 

 with almost wherever the chalk downs slope into the valleys or 

 low plains. No one travelling along the high roads which run at 



