122 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Acade7ny. 



and one which is still proceeding at a considerable rate, the fall of 

 the cliffs being frequent, particularly in bad weather. Much loss 

 of coast is sustained near Sidmouth, particularly in the direction 

 of High Peake, the small green-sand cap on the top of which will 

 disappear at no distant date, geologically speaking, and be only 

 known to have existed from the geological maps now constructed of 

 that part of the country." 



(p. 441.) — "The isolated Eed Sandstone and Conglomerate rocks 

 on several parts of the coast, the evidence of its former boundaries 

 between Sidmouth and Teignmouth, are often worn away by the 

 breakers in a manner well illustrating the unequal resistance offered 

 by different portions of them. One of these isolated masses, named 

 ' the Chit Eock,' which long rose above a ledge on the west of Sid- 

 mouth, was a few years since upset, in consequence of a central part 

 of it having been finally worn so thin that the upper portion was 

 knocked off by the breakers in a gale of wind." 



i^ear "Watchet, East Quantockshead and Little Stoke, the Lias 

 red marl and sandstone of the coast suffer much annual loss — not so 

 considerable a loss as they would sustain if exposed to the action of 

 heavier breakers than now reach them, even to such as now batter 

 and wear away similar rocks near Lyme Eegis and Sidmouth, but 

 6ufiS.ciently to become well marked. 



The minor effects of the breakers are easily seen on every part 

 of the coast, the harder rocks resisting their action, while the 

 softer are worn into caves, creeks, and coves, of every variety of 

 form. 



(p. 442.) — " The sea, by its action upon rocks of unequal hard- 

 ness and the fall of some compact portions of them, or of large 

 indurated nodules contained within them, often raises a barrier 

 against itself, and the lower portions of cliffs become protected for a 

 time ; beyond that they would remain otherwise firm, even in some 

 cases producing points of land composed of these blocks or more in- 

 durated masses of rock. {JVote). — Lndeed it may be said, on this 

 head, that beaches generally, more especially shingle beaches, are 

 only the harder part of abraded cliffs reduced to somewhat smaller 

 dimensions)." 



(p. 443.) — " Having thus briefly adverted to the destructive action 

 of the breakers on this coast, we should notice the protection afforded 

 by the common beaches thrown up in fi"ont of low lands.'' (The 

 author then enters into considerations regarding the formations and 

 influences of these beaches and the formation of dunes.) 



