scratchell's-bay. 199 



point of the middle range of Downs, which 

 have been produced by the decomposition and 

 wearing away of the rock in the direction of the 

 joints or fissures, with which the strata are tra- 

 versed. The angular or wedge-shaped form of 

 these rocks, has resulted from the highly inclined 

 northward dip of the beds of which they are 

 composed. 



Vertical chalk strata. — To the late Sir 

 Henry Englefield belongs the merit of having 

 first observed and directed attention, to the highly 

 interesting phenomena, occasioned by the disrup- 

 tion and elevation of the eocene and cretaceous 

 formations, which are so remarkably displayed in 

 the Isle of Wight ; namely, the vertical position of 

 the strata, and the shattered condition of the flint 

 nodules, though still imbedded in the solid rock. 

 These appearances may be conveniently examined 

 in the cliffs before us. 



The chalk forms parallel beds or strata vary- 

 ing from two to five feet in thickness, which 

 are commonly separated by layers of flint no- 

 dules imbedded at irregular distances from each 

 other; there are also a few nodules dispersed 

 indiscriminately in the mass. The dip of the 

 inclined strata as previously stated is in general 

 from 70° to 80° : but many beds throughout a con- 



