STRATA OF ALUM BAY. 157 



(Cancer Leachii,) was found in this clay, by Mr. 

 Bowerbank. 



The variegated and deeply-tinted sands, marls, 

 and clays, which impart so remarkable and bril- 

 liant an aspect to the cliff, are the next in order, 

 and form a total thickness of between 700 and 800 

 feet. The alternations and variety of the vertical 

 seams, or layers, are almost innumerable ; the 

 sands are of every shade of red, yellow, green, 

 and grey ; some are white, and others almost black : 

 the clays are equally diversified. Mr. Webster 

 remarks, that " the variety of the vertical layers 

 is endless, and may be compared to the vivid 

 stripes of a parti-coloured tulip. On cutting down 

 pieces of the cliff, it is astonishing to see the ex- 

 treme brightness of the colours, and the delicacy 

 and thinness of the several layers of white and red 

 sand, shale and white sand, yellow clay and white 

 and red sand; and, indeed, almost every imagi- 

 nable combination of these materials." In the 

 midst of this series, there are vertical layers of 

 pebbles, and one thick stratum and many seams 

 of lignite ; in some of the clays, dicotyledonous 

 leaves have been discovered, but no animal re- 

 mains. 



These richly-coloured strata are followed by 

 clays with septaria, seams of pebbles, and a bed 

 i 2 



