BLUE LIJIESTONE. \m 



of the rocks, and much impregnated with calcareous matter, have 

 produced a singular effect on the front of the clifls. The calcareous 

 deposition has encouraged the growth of moss in the crevices^ and on 

 the ledges of the rocks; and quantities of that moss being successively 

 incrusted with lime, hang down in curious columns, or stalactites; 

 so that the face of the cliff is adorned with a kind of rude colonnade 

 of mossy pillars, some of which appear as if furnished both m ith 

 capitals and pedestals. 



A little beyond that interesting spot, the limestone beds, with 

 some of the other strata, are interrupted; but we soon recover them 

 in the higher part of the Cloughton clifis. At Haiburn wyke there is 

 another interruption; but the limestone beds are again continued in 

 the lofty Stainton Dale cliffs ; where they rise to a great height, and 

 at last, with the higher sandstone beds, go out at the top, a little to 

 the south of the Peak. Beyond that point, we no more meet with 

 these beds in the sea cliil's; but opposite that part of the shore 

 which skills Hawsker Bottoms and Gnipe-houe farm, where there is 

 a remarkable depression of the strata, the limestone beds, which had 

 risen to sucli a great height at Peak, are found not far from the shore, 

 cropping out along the ridge on the east side of Gnipe-houe, and 

 again at a small stream, about half a mile further south, and nearly a 

 mile to tiie sor.th-east of Hawsker. Tire beds at these spots dip to- 

 wards the norlh or north-west, conformably with the bend of the 

 other strata, with which also they must needs rise again between 

 Gnipe-houe and Whitby, and finally go out at tlie surface; but their 

 outgoing, which must be a little to the north of High VVliitby, is con-- 

 cealed by the alluvium. 



In (he interior of this first range of the alum hilly, these linte- 

 stone beds make their appearance in various places; though in some 

 of the iiills they are entirely concealed. We find them in Harwood 

 Dale, at Dry Heads, about half a mile north from the chapel, and. 



