34 Mr. Rose’s Sketch of the Geology of West Norfolk. 
and Castle Rising; indeed, on the road leading from Lynn 
to Hunstanton, there are many visible indications of a resi- 
dence of the sea upon lands now raised to an elevation be- 
yond the reach of the highest tides. At Dersingham Heath 
and at Ingoldisthorpe it is not difficult to trace at various 
points terraces parallel to the shore of the Wash, raised by 
the waves of the flowing tide, and troughs and gulleys formed: 
by the retiring waters of ebb tide. ‘The adjoining marshes 
are considerably below the level of high tide, and are pro- 
tected from inundation by embankments. 
It is probable that the elevation of the strata at Hunstan- 
ton Cliff (rising about fifteen yards in a mile), continued along 
the eastern shore of the Wash, mainly contributed to the ex- 
clusion of the salt water from the valley of the Nar, and that 
it was further reclaimed by the silting up of the upper part of 
the estuary, and the embankments constructed by man. 
As this brick-carth is nowhere covered by transported ma- 
terials inclosing boulders of distant strata, we must consider 
it to be a post-diluvian deposit*. 
Ancient Beach.—At Hunstanton, manifestations of a great 
change in the relative level of the sea and the present cliff 
exist. I paid a visit to this interesting spot last summer, and 
whilst examining the greensand stratum at a part considerably 
beyond the point where the incumbent red chalk crops out 
(the least attractive portion of the cliff), I discovered traces of 
an ancient beach composed of rounded fragments of red and 
white chalk, immediately reposing upon the greensand, and 
covered by 93-feet of sandy loam, containing small angular 
fragments of flint. ‘The weather came on so stormy and wet, 
which continued during my stay, that I could not then carry 
further my examination. At the spot I examined, the old 
* The following are references to deposits of the same epoch: ‘‘Recent 
shells resting on the out-goings of the floetz strata in Clackmananshire,” as 
stated by Mr. Bald, in Mem.Werner. Soc., vol. i. p. 403;—‘ Marine shells 
found in the line of the Ardrossan canal,” by Capt. Laskey, Mem. Wern. 
Soc., vol. iv. part li. p. 568;—‘* Marine shells of existing species on the left 
bank of the Mersey, and above the level of high-water mark,” discovered 
by J.'lrimmer, Esq.; vide Proceedings of Geol. Society of London, vol. i. 
p. 419;—the occurrence of similarly situated shells near Preston in Lan- 
cashire, as stated by Mr. Gilbertscn, and confirmed by R. I. Murchison, 
Esq., who likewise observed “ similar phenomena over a very considerable 
tract of country occupying the ancient estuary of the Ribble;” vide Pro- 
ceedings Geol. Soc. Lond., vol. i. p. 365, 366.; [also Phil. Mag. and An- 
nals, N.S., vol. xi. p. 366.—Enrv. ] ;—and “ Description of a bed of recent 
marine shells near Elie on the southern coast of Fifeshire, by W. J. Hamil- 
ton, Esq., Sec. Geol. Soc., read March 11, 1835. [Lond. and Edinb, Phil. 
Mag., vol. vii. p. 318.] In imitation of the technical language of Mr. 
Lyell, the period of these deposits may be termed the pascene, from ras 
omnis, and xesvoc recens, all the shells being of recent species. 
