WAVES OF THE SEA. 99 



been situated on the shore, have now only their names left. 

 The parts of the shore most rapidly corroded by the sea, are 

 those composed of sand, chalk, and clay, while those com- 

 posed of the harder kinds of sandstone or of granite, have 

 been but little wasted away, so that they project and form 

 the headlands, while in many cases deposits of mud have 

 extended them. There are many other causes which 



CHALK CLIFFS, DOVEK. 



determine the elevation or depression of the land, besides 

 the action of the sea and earthquakes, such as winds, 

 frosts, &c. 



The slightest movement of the air communicates motion 

 to the surface of such a great sheet of water as the sea, 

 and this motion is gradually increased till one ripple meets 

 another, and the power of both goes to form the next, so 

 that they acquire a very considerable size ; when a gale of 

 wind blows, the rolling of the waves far out at sea becomes 

 terrific, and they rise like mountains, chasing one another 

 over the wide ocean. But sailors rather like a smart breeze, 

 and more especially did they a few years ago, when the wind 



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