214 PHYSIOGRAPHY. [chap. 



thrown into a basin-like shape since their formation. The 

 disturbance to which they have been subjected is yet more 

 strikingly seen if a section be taken across, not only this 

 basin, but across another area of similar character, known 

 as the Hampshire basin. Fig. 62 is a section from Abingdon 

 in Berkshire, through Hampshire and across the Solent to 

 the Isle of Wight ; the vertical scale being about twenty 

 times greater than the horizontal scale. Here the strata, 

 originally almost horizontal, have been thrown into a succes- 

 sion of gentle undulations, rising to a crest in one locality 

 and falling to a trough at another. I'here can be little doubt 

 that the Eocene rocks, including the London clay, once 

 spread over the whole surface of this chalk, but have since 

 been removed from the high ground by denudation, leaving 



Fig. 60. — Strata deposited in Fig. 6i, — Strata thrown into a 



a basin. basm-shape. 



isolated tracts separated by intervening patches of bare 

 chalk. In the Isle of Wight, the beds have been so greatly 

 disturbed that the chalk strata stand almost on end, as is well 

 shown by the bands of black flints which run ui almost 

 vertical lines. Incidentally it may be remarked that when 

 strata lie in this shape — - they are said to form a synclinal^ 

 and when in this form ■—- an anticUnalr The strata in the 

 south-eastern part of England have been but little dis- 

 turbed ; but, among the old rocks of Wales and other parts 

 of western Britain, it is not uncommon to find the beds 



1 Sy7iclinal, from avv, sun, with ; and kKxvo)^ klitio, to slope. 

 * Anticlinal, from avrX, aitti, against ; and K\ivai. 



