44 DYNAMICAL GEOLOGY. 



wasting in some places and gaining in others ; for, as we 

 shall see hereafter, waves and tides may make as well as 

 destroy land. 



In Europe examples are more numerous and striking, 

 and have been more carefully studied. The rushing tide 

 through the English Channel and Dover Strait has 

 greatly enlarged and is still enlarging the channel. The 

 eastern coast of England is now being eaten away at the 

 rate of from three to five feet per annum. The church 

 of the Keculvers, which stands near the mouth of the 

 Thames, and for many centuries has been a landmark for 

 ships entering that port, stood, in the time of Henry 

 VIII, one and a half miles inland, on a high cliff. It is 

 now on the sea-margin, and would have long ago fallen 

 into the sea if it had not been saved by an artificial sea- 

 wall. Many isles in the German Ocean have entirely dis- 

 appeared in this way. Heligoland is fast going, and 

 already almost gone. 



The western coast of England, Ireland, and Scotland 



FIG. 22. 



is wasting less rapidly at present, but only because noth- 

 ing but hard rock is left. The deeply dissected coast- 



