A. R. Hunt — The Torhay Raised Beaches. 405 



have been only two Glacial epochs, separated by an inter-Glacial 

 epoch of more genial conditions" (pp. 445-6). 



This corresponds very well with the results arrived at generally 

 by the American geologists : they recognize three stages — the early 

 Glacial epoch, characterized by ice-accnmulation to its maximum 

 extent ; the middle Glacial epoch, or that of the first retreat of the 

 ice; and the later Glacial epoch, or that of the final retreat (Daua ; 

 see also Chamberlin, in " Great Ice Age," p. 773). 



But some prefer to regard the whole as really one epoch, though 

 varying from time to time in intensity and local extent. 



While not unaware of local difficulties, we respectfully submit 

 that Dr. Geikie's complicated system of so many Glacial and inter- 

 Glacial periods, and so many submergences and re-emergences, from 

 oOO or 600 feet downwards — with their varying and apparently 

 inscrutable effects upon climate — tends on the whole to increase 

 these difficulties, and should therefore be " reformed altogether." 



V. — A Note on the Torbat Eaisbd Beaches and on the Detached 

 Blocks trawled in the English Channel. 



By A. E. Hunt, M.A. 



IN Professor Prestwich's important paper on the Eaised Beaches 

 of the South of England ^ the following passage occurs : " In 

 Torbay there are small portions of a Eaised Beach near Paignton. . . ." 

 As on the strength of this statement the line of Eaised Beaches is 

 carried in the map round the extreme present limits of Torbay, and 

 the hitherto universally accepted doctrine, that Eaised Beaches do 

 not occur in the softer parts of the coast-line, is thus controverted, 

 the assertion is one of considerable importance. 



In my own paper on the Eaised Beaches I wrote, in 1888- — "The 

 stage of the erosion indicated by the Northern Torbay Eaised Beaches 

 is that when the east and west coast-line had not passed the line of 

 Torbay, and Torbay itself was but in an early stage of formation." 

 A Eaised Beach at Paignton would subvert this conclusion, and 

 the numerous facts on which it was based. 



Desirous as I necessarily was to investigate the reputed Paignton 

 beach. Professor Prestwich in the most generous way oifered me 

 every facility. The authorities relied on were Messrs. Pengelly and 

 Ussher. As it happened, Messrs. Pengelly and Ussher, and myself, 

 had all written independent papers on the few hundred yards of 

 coast in question ; so there was no lack of litei'ature to fall back on. 



My first impression was that Mr. Pengelly might have described 

 as a beach an eroded bed of conglomerate very like a Eaised Beach 

 in the sandstone of Eoundham Head, which bed he used to point to 

 as an instance of contemporaneous erosion of Triassic age, and 

 possibly a Eaised Beach, though one in no way connected with the 

 Quaternary beaches. This deposit, however, does not seem to be 

 noticed in any of his papers. Eeferring the question to Mr. Ussher, 



^ Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc, vol. xlviii, p. 279. 

 * Trans. Devon Assoc, vol. xx, p. 250. 



