15 



eh" 



CHAP. II. 



MAKITIME GEOLOGY. 



Extent, Character, Variety of Aspect of our Sea-shores, and their 

 Relation to Geological Structure. General View of Geology. 

 Geological Tour from Cornwall and Devonshire along the Coasts 

 of England and Scotland, exhibiting the General Features of 

 our Sea-shores as regards their Structure. 



THE shores of the British Islands, including 

 those of the many smaller isles which form the 

 group, comprehend, when measured along the 

 extremely irregular line of our numerous bays and 

 estuaries, a circuit of several thousands of miles, 

 and exhibit throughout their vast extent the 

 utmost variety of scenery and aspect. 



In some instances the shores are tame and 

 uninteresting ; but as a general rule they possess 

 great beauty and grandeur. In some parts of the 

 coast the land slopes gently toward the sea, and is 

 either clothed with trees, or consists of rich 

 meadows and cultivated fields, and is terminated 

 by a beach of smooth sand or of pebbles mingled 

 with shells. In others the coast is bounded by 

 precipitous cliffs of great altitude, exposed to the 

 perpetual action of the billows, and presenting 

 features of the wildest and most romantic character. 

 In the one case the wanderer easily gains access 



