viii I'UKFACE. 



the Undercliffj and southern coast, constructed 

 l.\ Captain Tbbetson, and the collection of fossils 

 accompanying them, which arc exhibited in the 

 Polytechnic Institution of London, afford an 

 instructive exposition of the strata and organic 

 remains of this interesting district. 



Bui notwithstanding these admirable illustra- 

 tions, I may venture to affirm, that the Geology 

 of the Island is but little known or regarded 

 by the majority of the intelligent persons, who 

 every season flock by thousands to its shores, and 

 rapidly traversing the accustomed routes, visit the 

 picturesque localities noted in the numerous hand- 

 hook-, and take their departure, without suspecting 

 thai they have been travelling over a country, rich 

 with the spoils of nature, and teeming with objects 

 of the highesl interest to the instructed observer. 



Even the inhabitants, with hut a few honourable 

 exc( ptions, manifest an extraordinary degree of 

 apatb.3 in ever} thing relating to the Geology of 

 the Island. In vain will the stranger seek for 

 public collections, illustrative of its physical struc- 

 ture, and fossil remains. In one week, it would 

 be easj for a practical geologisl to collect a more 

 instructive series of specimens, than is contained 



