154 GEOLOGY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT: 



convince the observer, that the geological charac- 

 ters of this north-western section of the eocene 

 strata, agree in every essential feature with those 

 which engaged his attention at the eastern extre- 

 mity of the Island.* The diagram, lign. 11, will 

 serve to show the close analogy between the de- 

 posits of Whitecliff, and of Alum Bay. This 

 correspondence, and the extension of the same 

 beds throughout the northern portion of the Isle 

 of Wight, were ascertained, and distinctly enun- 

 ciated by Mr. Webster, in his admirable memoir 

 on the " Strata above the Chalk." f 



From the incessant action of the sea on the base 

 of Headon Hill, large masses of the upper beds 

 are continually falling down ; and the face of the 

 cliff is generally in so ruinous a state, that the 

 true stratigraphical position of the deposits is 

 seldom visible. Repeated observations have, how- 

 ever, ascertained that the superior beds are nearly 

 horizontal, but curve upwards as they approach 

 the vertical strata, in the same manner as the cor- 

 responding layers at Whitecliff. In the sketch, 

 PL IX., the upper masses of marl and limestone 



* Mr. Prestwich has given accurate and detailed sections of Alum Hay, 

 and Whitecliff, in juxta-position on the same plate, and thus admirably illus- 

 trated the relations of the strata in the two localities, Geol. Journal, No. 7. 



t On the " Freshwater Formations in the Isle of Wight," (fee. Geol. Trans. 

 vol. ii. p. 161, First Series; l.sl I. 



