WAVE CUTTING 



295 



out sharply as points and promontories. In some cases 

 the waves cut back so rapidly on lofty coasts that high 

 cliffs are formed. 



If the material of the coast does not readily break off 

 when undercut by the waves, a sea cave may be formed. 

 Such is the well-known Fingal's cave on an island off the 

 coast of Scotland where the structure of one of the igne- 

 ous rock layers allows the waves to quarry it compara- 

 tively easily. Spouting holes and caves are usually due 

 to an easily eroded place in the shore where the waves 

 are able to cut back a somewhat horizontal tunnel and by 

 their impact upon the 

 end of the excavation 

 form an opening to the 

 surface through which 

 spray is ejected. The 

 hole may be at some 

 little distance from the 

 shore. 



Since waves have the 

 power of cutting only 

 to a small depth, it may 



happen that an exposed rocky coast will have a bench 

 cut along it, under the surface, backed by a sea cliff 

 against which the waves are still cutting. If such a 

 coast becomes elevated, the rock bench will appear with a 

 cliff terminating it on the landward side. If a coast stays 

 at the same elevation long enough, or if its material is 

 easily eroded, large areas of what was formerly dry land 

 may be cut away and brought under the sea. 



In 1399 Henry of Lancaster, afterward Henry IV of 

 England, returned from his exile and landed at Ravenspur, 

 an important town in Yorkshire, to begin his fight for the 

 crown. A person disembarking at the same place to-day 



