136 TIIK SEA-COAST. 



of the series may be grouped in the following manner, beginning 

 near the top of the cliff : 



Grey limestone series (of White Nab and Cloughton) ; consist- 

 ing of shale, shelly limestone, shale, and nodular shelly limestone ; 

 30 feet in all. 



Shales and sandstones in very numerous alternations, some of 

 which yield fossil plants and traces of coal; 130 feet. 



Thick sandstone beds ; 60 feet. 



Series of thin sandstones and thick shales in frequent alterna- 

 tions, some of which yield fossil plants, as Ferns, Zamise, Equi- 

 seta; 200 feet. 



Irregular group of sandstones and shales, becoming ferrugi- 

 nous toward the bottom, and there yielding Zamise in abundance ; 

 60 feet. 



Then follows a remarkable group of fine-grained micaceous 

 sandstone, generally soft, but partially aggregated into harder 

 parts, where irony nests occur. As seen at Blue Wick, at the 

 foot of the cliff, it is divisible into three principal parts. The 

 upper, 30 feet thick, is yellow, irony, and more solid than the 

 rest, and contains layers of pebbles and many beautiful shells ; 

 the next division is softer, with a considerable number of shells 

 lying in groups, 20 feet ; the lowest division is more grey and 

 argillaceous, approximating in character to the Lias shale which 

 is below. This is also a shelly series, and is 20 feet thick. 



The geologist who will follow Mr. Bean in the exploration of 

 the strata of these richly conchiferous beds at Blue Wick, will 

 often turn from the minute inspection of Serpulse and Trigonise, 

 Belemnites, Aviculae, and Pinnae, to gaze on the mighty cliffs 

 above, and the magnificent sea and shore beyond. As there is 

 certainly no point on the Yorkshire coast more attractive to the 

 naturalist than this, so none is more delightful to the artist. 

 But Robin Hood's Bay is now even more difficult of access, ex- 

 cept to pedestrians, than formerly, for the railway has stopped 

 the primitive coach which used to drag its slow length between 



