102 BESCRIPTTON OF THE STRATA. 



sandstone beds that form the precipitous clifts on the soatii side of 

 Clongliton wyke, may bear some analogy to the Wain-stones; being 

 nearly at the same distance above the blue limestone. We may add, 

 that, besides the instance noticed as occurring- in Newton Dale, there 

 are other spots where ironstone beds, analogous to those of the 

 Gristhorp and Scarborough shores, may be seen among the upper 

 strata of the alum hills. In a bank on the road from Whitby to Scar- 

 borough, about a mile and a half south from Flask inn, the road has 

 been made through a bed of sandy shale, containing ironstone nod- 

 ules, disposed in regular layers. These nodules exhibit a peculiar 

 variety of ironstone, which occurs also at Burniston wyke. Each 

 ball or nodule is usually enveloped with a crust in a half decomposed 

 state, sometimes near an inch in thickness, porous and cellular like 

 some kinds of slag. This crust is of a rusty colour, with a mixture 

 of green specks. The green colour is much more conspicuous in the 

 solid nucleus which it incloses ; and which is often of great specific 

 gravity. Some specimens, from their green aspect, bear a great re- 

 semblance to copper ore. 



Having thus noticed the beds that occur over the blue limestone, 

 let us proceed to examine that rock itself. 



The name blue limestone is applicable only to the principal part 

 of this member of the strata; for a considerable portion of what must 

 be viewed as belonging to it, is grei/. Immediately under the hard 

 ferruginous beds, at Cloughton wyke, we find a coarse grey lime- 

 stone, somev/hat sandy; and beneath that a hard, compact, blueish 

 limestone, of a considered)! e thickness. Both aboimd with organic 

 remains. These beds (marked h ) first make their appearance on the 

 inside of the south-east point of the wyke; and rising from thence 

 towards the bottom of the wyke, they are found at a considerable 

 Jieight, immediately beyond the interruption there, in the face of a 

 perpendicular clifl". Here some springs, issuing from the upper part 



