80 DESCRIPTION OF THE STRATA. 



channel of the Derwent ; at least on its western bank, where the Mal- 

 ton spaw rises from it. We have already noticed, that it is seen at 

 the quarry on the south side of Malton, and in the bank opposite 

 Kirkhani priory. At the latter place it rises to a great height, the 

 strata on the right bank of the river, as was observed, being higher 

 than on the left bank. The shale, however, is also found on the east 

 bank, and it has been bored into at Firby, to the depth of 70 yards, 

 in another fruitless attempt to find coal. 



We have already remarked, that this shale occurs in the valley 

 on the east side of Terrington ; and to this we may add the valley on 

 the east side of Dalby. At Wass bank, the blue shale is the lowest 

 visible bed, and is found to rise about 100 feet, above the plain where 

 Byland abbey is situated. At Whitestone cliff also, the shale occu- 

 pies the lower part of the precipice, and a large portion of the slope 

 on the noi'th side of Gormire. It might also be expected at the foot 

 of Rowlston scar; but there it is covered by the alluvium which lies 

 between that precipitous cliff and Hood bill; a small detached hill, 

 resembling a hay-stack, serving, with some other smaller elevations, 

 to connect the Hambleton hills with the plain of Thirsk. 



In the smooth northern fronts of the oolite hills, on the north side 

 of the vale of Pickering, the shale does not make its appearance ; for 

 in these fronts the hard beds only protrude through the alluvium. It 

 is, however, more than probable, that were the strata there exposed, 

 we should find, instead, of a thick bed of shale, a number of thin 

 beds, parted by seams or beds of schistose sandstone. Indeed it is 

 probable, that a great part of what we find in the form of shale, on 

 the south side of these hills, passes into schistose sandstone, before 

 arriving at the northern fronts; for that kind of sandstone is found 

 there in abundance, alternating with numerous beds of shale. Of this 

 we see an instance, in descending from Newton into Newton Dale ; 

 where such alternate beds of shale and sandstone appear to occupy 



