LI3IEST0NE ^ CALCAREOUS SANDSTONE. 71 



while the inferior beds ascend without it to Saltergate Brow. The 

 same thing is observed in some of the hills to the north and west of 

 Helmsley. On the south side of the vale of Pickering too, on the 

 west side of the Derwent, the oolite is soon discontinued, while the 

 inferior beds extend towards the vale of York. Even on the inner 

 slope of the limestone hills, where they descend into the vale, the 

 oolite is frequently discontinued, instead of coming down to the plain; 

 as we see at Wilton, Ebberston, and other places, between Thornton 

 and Snainton. In such places, the gentle southern slope of the hills, 

 just before it arrives at the plain, is suddenly changed to a steep 

 declivity, like that of their northern fronts; and the oolite is broken 

 off at the brow of the declivity, while the inferior beds occupy the rest 

 of the slope. Here, however, as in the northern fronts, the steep 

 descent is smoothed with alluvium; so that the strata are for the most 

 part concealed, though the edges of the harder beds in the series 

 occasionally crop out. 



It would be vain to attempt a minute description of all the beds 

 in this division of our strata; for the series is by no means the same 

 in every part where it occurs. Beds that are found in some parts, 

 belonging to this series, are wanting in others; and beds which in 

 some parts are separated by thin layers of sand or marl, are seen in 

 other parts running into one, without any seam or parting. All, 

 therefore, that can be expected here, is a general description of the 

 strata, with a more detailed account of some of the most remark- 

 able beds. 



In a few of the beds we find traces of the oolitic structure ; and 

 this is particularly the case with the bed of bine and grey limestone, 

 which generally occurs immediately under the oolite. This bed; 

 which is often of considerable thickness, may be seen at Pickering, 

 at Sinnington, at Kirkby Moorside, at a quarry on the side of the 

 York road, a little to the south of Malton, and at a number of othee 



