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that the view of the subject which I have adopted, is at least as 

 worthy of consideration as any hypothesis resting upon mere 

 speculation. 



In estimating the effect of rain, springs, and streams, upon 

 the Cotteswolds, it is necessary to take into account not only 

 the larger streams which act in the bottoms of the valleys, but 

 also the streamlets which issue from the combes, and which, 

 under ordinary observation, would almost escape notice; even 

 the small springs, which flow only in wet seasons, and dry up in 

 STunmer, play no unimportant part in the general denudation, 

 as shewn in their tendency to promote landslips. 



Between the combes of the Cotteswolds and the springs, there 

 appears to be intimate connection ; in fact, there is not a combe 

 in the whole district in which there is not a spring issuing, 

 either from the upper part of the slope, or lower down, according 

 to the respective positions of the Fullers Earth, and the Upper 

 Lias, by which the waters are thrown off. In the one instance 

 the combe has a stream running down its bed, which is constantly 

 working deeper into the hiU-side ; in the other the upper part 

 of the combe is a dry valley. Wherever the spring rises in the 

 Fullers Earth, there is the head of the combe. If the springs 

 are numerous and distant, the combe is enlarged into an 

 amphitheatre — of this many examples may be readily cited; 

 sometimes the combe bifurcates, and we then find a spring in 

 each branch. In fact, whatever may be the number of branches, 

 we may safely predict there will be found as many springs 

 running out of them. It may be suggested that the excavations 

 of the combes by the sea, or tides, would cause the opening of 

 springs, but if the combes were so formed we should expect to 

 find, in some of them at least, no trace of springs at all, as it 

 cannot be supposed that the sea would excavate a combe only 

 in those places where subterranean springs abounded. 



This intimate connection of springs with the combes renders it 

 difficult to account for the one, except through the instnmientahty 

 of the other ; but if we consider the action of springs in causing 

 slips, (and it is, I think, to slips that the widening of the valleys 

 is, to a considerable extent, to be attributed,) this instrumentality 



