Geological Survey of the Yorkshire Coast. 425 
the sea in front, and by the land-springs in the rear ; its actual face covered 
by a sloping talus, which is only removed at intervals, and during very short 
periods, by high tides; opportunities of examining the entire section, espe- 
cially near the base, are unfrequent, even to a resident. 
That such a woody stratum does in reality exist along the Norfolk coast, 
covered by a vast and irregular thickness of diluvium, is now, we believe, 
satisfactorily established; but, from the circumstances alluded to, it is rarely 
extensively displayed in continuity. During his summer excursion, the geo- 
logist might pass beneath these cliffs, and in vain look for that subterranean 
forest of which he has read; or he would perceive its indications only at 
distant intervals, and be inclined to report that there, as in the Holderness 
cliffs, it existed only in spots or patches. Had the same geologist possessed 
facilities for observation during a succession of years, in the stormy months, 
in the season of wintry gales and of turbulent seas; had he noted the in- 
dications as from time to time they were developed, he would have ascer- 
tained that there is scarcely a point along the whole Norfolk range of cliffs 
where this ligneous bed has not been laid bare. 
Our limits will not permit us to follow the details of all the strata de- 
scribed by Messrs. Young and Bird. The chalk formation, as next in suc- 
cession, follows. We may observe, in passing, that we found some difficulty 
in ascertaining from this work what is the dip or prevailing inclination of 
the chalk in this district. The authors describe it as dipping, “ not in one 
direction only,” but declining from the Wolds towards a common centre in 
Holderness; that is to say, south at Flamborough, south east at Driffield, 
and east near the Humber. This angle is in some places given as 100 ft., 
in others less than 15 ft. in the mile. The authors here appear to have 
mistaken the surface inclination of the chalk, for the direction of its plane, 
or of its beds. “It is obvious that these may be very different things, and 
by no means coincident; because the slope of the strata may even be in 
one direction, while the dip of the surface is in another. Here it involves 
a manifest incongruity, where the reader is informed at p. 51., that “ the dip 
of the chalk strata” near Flamborough “ is 100 ft. per mile ;” and, at p, 54 
and 55., that “ it lies in horizontal or at least flat strata.” 
We pass over several pages descriptive of various sandstones, oolites, 
and shales, the attempt to identify which with corresponding strata in our 
southern counties would occupy too much space. Hood Hill, and some 
others of a larger size, at Hawnby and Bilsdale, are stated to resemble 
haystacks in form. ‘“ Similar insulated elevations are found between Sil- 
phoue Moor and Saltergate, the most remarkable of which are Langdale 
End and Blakey Topping. These hills are not round, but oblong, like hay- 
stacks. They have flat summits, and smooth, sloping sides. corresponding 
with the fronts of that range from which they are detached.” ( fig. 105.) 
Several instances are furnished of living toads having been found within 
solid blocks of sandstone, in the Yorkshire quarries. “ We are the more 
particular in recording these facts,” the authors observe, “ because some 
modern philosophers have attempted to explode such accounts as wholly 
fabulous.” 
The vegetable fossils of the district are illustrated by three plates, but no 
attempt has been made to give the scientific names to these figures, or to 
those representing zoophytes, and they are all far too coarsely executed to 
form any real acquisition to this department of natural history. Plates V. 
and VI., containing encrinites and echinites, are wretched productions. Eight 
plates exhibiting fossil testaceous remains follow, after which are sketches 
of fossil saurian animals, or reptiles. 
A noble specimen of fossil crocodile was discovered in the Alum Cliff in 
1824; and after great labour in taking it out, and subsequently clearing 
away portions of shale that adhered to it, and rearranging the parts which 
Vou, IH. — No. 15. FF 
