NATURAL HISTORY. 
formed from the debris and decomposition of the 
primitive hills that bound it at the western end. 
Debris from the green sand formation apparently 
water worn, also occurs sparingly at the surface 
on the eastern side. 
These deposits consist chiefly of five clay beds of 
various width, running parallel with as many alter- 
nating ones of gravel whose width varies from 50 to 
100 feet ; the loose head of earth and gravel on 
these varies considerably, from 5 or 6 feet, to 25 or 
30; beneath this incumbent stratum, the clay beds 
lie, not in a straight level manner, but undulating, 
like the waves of the sea ; beneath the 4 western- 
most beds (which are worked to depths varying 
from 30 to 80 feet)* the Bovey Coal runs ; under 
the most eastern or pipe-clay (which is also fre- 
quently worked to the depth of 80 feet) white quartz 
and sand are found, 
The Bovey coal which passes under this, occurs 
in stratified beds, which occupy a space of 70 feet 
altogether in thickness, and dip at an angie of about 
240 or 250 near the Pottery in the parish of Bovey, 
where the largest body of it appears to be situated, 
and where it approaches to within 5 or 6 feet of the 
surface ; at this spot are 6 beds of various thick- 
ness, interposed between brownish clay ; in this 
*Near the S. E. corner of the Heathfield, this formation 
was bored to the depth of 200 feet thro’ continuous layers 
of clay, varying in colour and texture, in an unsuccessful 
search for black coal, 
