SPEETON. 129 



The somewhat giddy feat of descending the face of the cliff 

 with the aid of ropes, for the sake of the eggs, is one by which 

 many of the Flamborough men obtain their living in the summer 

 season. A more familiar hazard is run by the bold fishers of this 

 coast, who in their little cobles set forth from the north or the 

 south landing to visit perhaps the Dogger Bank, possibly to return 

 no more. " The sea gat him " is too often the reply to your 

 inquiry for some honest fisherman who may have been your 

 boatman round the promontory, or your guide through the 

 windings of the caves. 



An easier life is theirs who now gather, in the summer, at 

 Flamborough to shoot the birds, or go through the luxurious 

 idleness of a watering-place. They may be invited to look at 

 the course of the Dane's Dike ; to examine the old square tower 

 and other marks of the ancient occupation of the lordship of 

 Flamborough. Perhaps this bold cape was Ocellum Promonto^ 

 rium ; perhaps here or near it was the Prsetorium of Antoninus ; 

 from this point Ida (or Flammzwyn as the Welsh poet calls him) 

 marched to the conquest of Northumbria. In the vicinity are 

 British entrenchments and Roman camps, on the shore abun- 

 dance of Algse, in the cliffs organic remains. Where can a few 

 summer days be more agreeably spent ? 



SPEETON. 



The dark clay cliffs below the village of Speeton are interest- 

 ing to the geologist, who may still gather a fair series of Ammo- 

 nites, with a few Crioceratites, and beautiful Crustacea, from the 

 clay, and the small nodules which lie in it. Belemnites of great 

 beauty are the most plentiful fossils. But when first I saw 

 Speeton Cliff (1824), the lovely little shells for which it is 

 famous lay on the surface abundantly, and Mr. Bean, Mr. Wil- 

 liamson, and others of my friends obtained multitudes of objects 

 which are now very rarely met with. 



