»(> DESCRIPTION OF THE STRATA. 



to the very beach; the sandstone, and even the shale, beuig inter- 

 rupted, or covered. The beds of shale are usually of no great thick- 

 ness, and are interstratified with beds or seams of schistose sandstone : 

 but in a few places, particularly in a small bay, or wyke, opposite 

 Burniston, it resumes something of its former importance, occupying 

 the face of a considerable clifi. 



It is rather singular, that at Cay ton, at Scarborough, at Burniston 

 wyke, and to within a little of Cloughton wyke, the shale beds are 

 nearly on the same level; for, instead of going out at the top, or 

 sinking entirely below the sea, they merely rise and fall, in an undu- 

 lating line. These undulations are- very numerous between Scar- 

 borough and Cloughton wyke. The shale descends below the beach 

 at Peaseholm beck, and rises again beyond it ; disappears' another 

 time at Scalby mill, but resumes its place on the further side; and in 

 like manner rises and falls repeatedly, in its progress northward. It 

 is scai'cely necessary to add, that the other strata, in these places, 

 are subject to the same undulations. 



The transition of this shale into sandstone, as it advances to- 

 wards the north, has already been noticed. We have a full display 

 of it before we arrive at Cloughton wyke: for, a little to the north, of 

 Burniston wyke, one of the sandstone beds in the shale is enlarged 

 to the thickness of 15 or 20 feet, while the shale is proportionally 

 diminished ; and tliough the shale, a little after, regains a portion of 

 its extent, it presently loses ground, and dwindles into an insignificant 

 seam, scarcely discernible, while the sandstone swells into immense 

 beds, forming a lofty precipitous cliff as far as to Cloughton wyke. 

 Here the shale again shews itself, below the sandstone, though the 

 latter greatly predominates; but both run out at the back part of the 

 wyke, the upper strata being there interrupted. 



It is unnecessary to trace the further progress of this second 

 sliale; for though something corresponding with it may be found 



