FROM COWES TO RYDE. 97 



Freshwater, within a short distance of the southern 

 shore, and quickly expands into an estuary that 

 falls into the sea at Yarmouth, the entire length 

 of the river scarcely exceeding three miles. 



Along the southern shore of the Island there 

 are no streams sufficiently large to deserve the 

 name of rivers ; but the clay beds that in some 

 parts of the cliffs are covered by porous strata 

 many "yards in thickness, give rise to copious 

 rivulets, some of which issue from a great height, 

 and dashing from ledge to ledge, fall into the sea 

 in cascades of considerable picturesque beauty; 

 those of Shanklin and Blackgang Chines {PL XIII.) 

 are well known examples. 



From Cowes to Ryde. — From the highly 

 cultivated state of that portion of the Island we are 

 approaching, and the luxuriant woods and copses 

 with which it is adorned, its geological structure is 

 almost wholly concealed from view. The water- 

 worn blocks of limestone on the sea-shore, and 

 the layers of tertiary strata exposed in those 

 places where recent encroachments of the sea 

 have undermined the low cliffs which skirt the 

 plantations along the water's edge, afford, how- 

 ever, indications of the nature of the deposits 

 composing this district. As there are no loca- 

 lities of geological interest around Cowes that are 



