THE EARTH'S SURFACE SEA ACTION. 49 



cooses are cut; or perhaps two or more steps will merge 

 into one, according to the number of beds through 

 which the joint penetrates. At one place, east 

 of Carrickurra, there is a step, above high water of 

 spring tides, on which the " block beach " rests; at 

 this place the cliff is about 50 feet high. 



The stones forming the " block beach " are cast up 

 during the winter gales, and some of them are of a 

 considerable size. A little south of Doughatna the 

 following observation was made : " Great quarrying 

 seems to be going on here during the gales. Blocks 

 30 x 15 x 4 feet tossed and tumbled about." And 

 again, half way between Doughatna and the Glassen 

 rock there is this note : " A block 15x12x4 feet 

 seems to have been moved 20 yards, and left on a step 

 10 feet higher than its original site." East and west 

 of the Glassen rock there are two caves which run for a 

 considerable distance inland, and connected with both 

 are " puffing holes." 1 The western puffing hole is 85 

 yards from the sea margin, and the eastern 33 yards. 

 On the north-east side of the latter there is a small 

 " block beach," the blocks in which have all the 

 appearance of being yearly tossed about by the waves, 

 while more are added to it, and we may suppose some 

 sucked into the abyss below. 



1 A perpendicular hole connected with a horizontal cave into which 

 the sea has access. During high tides and heavy gales, the compressed 

 air in the caves drives up the water in great puffs of spray through the 

 perpendicular hole. 



D 



