16 MR. R. D. DARBISHIRE ON GREAT-ORME^S-HEAD 



Head on every side. In many parts of the northern ex- 

 posure, the profile of denudation is less altered by falls 

 and less hidden by talus than elsewhere, and in its altera- 

 tion of cliff and scar is marine from the present beach to 

 the very top. So also are the grand curves of successive 

 contour-lines of the Head. 



iv. On most of the vertical precipices a somewhat more 

 minute examination and a favourable light will detect 

 more than one of the peculiar wave- worn grooves, or lon- 

 gitudinal caves, which record a long continuance of marine 

 wear at high-tide level along a stationary cliff. These 

 occur at various heights, and are often still horizontal for 

 considerable distances. 



On the fine inland cliff that overhangs the footpath on 

 the west side and north of the Gogarth ruins, there is a 

 remarkable concurrence of two lines of wave-hollow. One, 

 still horizontal, and cutting right across the inclined lines 

 of stratification, tells of a long pause in the upward move- 

 ment of the Head. The other, starting at one point from 

 the last-mentioned groove, follows with equal distinctness 

 the line of a particular layer of stone. If the observation 

 be correct, and if the latter excavation be not merely atmo- 

 spheric in a softer stratum, we must suppose the quiescence 

 of the upper wear to have been succeeded by a period of 

 alteration of level of great duration and uniformity. The 

 latter feature is further implied in the undisturbed hori- 

 zontality of many of these old tide-marks. A magnificent 

 specimen of this cave of high-tide erosion may be seen at 

 the foot of the Little Orme^s Head. 



These wave-marks are mostly inaccessible, and I have not 

 taken the height of any. It would be w^orth while to 

 study them in detail, especially for some one who could 

 aid his observations with exact lithological knowledge. In 

 some cases the weathering of a particular bed forms a 

 groove which close inspection alone can distinguish from 



