286 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 



plain of Cleveland. As the whinstone dyke passes through part of 

 this valley, the idea of its being the result of an extensive break is the 

 more confirmed. 



In regard to the indentations of the shore, there is no doubt 

 that the sea has greatly modified their shape, but their origin must 

 be ascribed to breaks and denudations of the strata. Wherever 

 bays have been formed on the coast, as at Filey, Robin Hood's 

 Bay, Sandsend, and Runswick, we can trace their formation to 

 breaks, subsidences, or interruptions, of the strata. Even our pro- 

 montories and cliffs must have been formed by similar means. Vast 

 masses of the strata have sunk down, and become part of the bed 

 of the ocean, while the rocks from vehich they were detached have 

 remained as sea-cliffs. How can we account for our submarine cliffs 

 and promontories, but by supposing, that the rocks which are below 

 the level of the sea have experienced dislocations, like those above it? 

 Indeed, the form and position of Whitby rock (see p 159) may suffice 

 to shew, that the breaks in the strata have extended outwards 

 beyond the line of the shore. 



7. In several places, the strata, through the effect of subsidence, are 

 disposed in the shape of a basin. — Some instances of this kind have 

 been noticed in Part First, particularly the chalk strata, and most of 

 all, the oolite strata. The vale of Pickering is like a vast basin, the 

 central part being sunk or depressed, while the oolite strata dip to- 

 wards it all around, except where it is bounded by the chalk. Many 

 writers speak as if the basin form were almost peculiar to coal strata, 

 but any other strata must assume this form, where the middle part of 

 a district, or extensive mass of strata, has sunk down, while the 

 outer parts slope towards it on every side. The coal beds of our 

 district are ])erhaps the least thrown into that shape of any of our 

 strata; though even in them we find here and there small round de- 

 pressions, or basins, of which the circular vale of Ruswarp has been 



