IRONSTONE AND SANDSTONE. 93 



the shale, from their position, and their superior hardness. From the 

 small bay noticed above, where the series is so extensive, the beds 

 rise towards Cay ton point, so often mentioned. In the bay oppo- 

 site the mill, they are somewhat depressed and broken; and, after 

 undergoing some lesser undulations and disturbances, between that 

 and the White Nab, they rise towards that point; but are soon after 

 depressed more than ever, in the bay opposite Scarborough, the har- 

 bour being formed in this depression, or apparent interruption. Part 

 of the depressed strata might formerly be seen between the Spaw and 

 the piers, being the rocks called Ramsdale scar; but these rocks were 

 removed, to improve the harbour. Immediately beyond the harbour, 

 the hard strata rise again, rather abruptly, at the foot of the castle, 

 the piers being probably founded on part of them. A strong barrier 

 of ironstone and sandstone defends the foot of the castle rocks on the 

 east; rising towards the shale, and constituting the foundation on 

 which it rests. Opposite tlie bay on the north side of the castle, the 

 hard strata again sink down; but they rise again in greater extent on 

 the further side of it: and thus they continue to fall and rise, in fre- 

 quent and striking undulations, to within a little of Cloughton wyke. 

 The elevated points, between the depressed parts of the strata, 

 invariably project forward, while in the intermediate space the cliff 

 retires backward, forming a succession of bays, or recesses. The 

 reason of this is sufficiently obvious, on a bare inspection of these 

 projecting points; for we find the rocks there so consolidated as to 

 present a powerful resistance to the attacks of the ocean, whereas the 

 intermediate parts of tlie cliflT are far more vulnerable. In the bottoms 

 of the bays, the shale usually predominates; but at the points, it is 

 commonly excluded by the sandstone and ironstone ; insulated masses 

 of which often stand like pillars in front of these points, marking out 

 their extent at former periods, and defending them from the rude 

 shocks of the stormy sea. Examples to illustrate these remarks, may 



2 A 



