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



It seems to me out of the question to regard these blocks 

 as perched blocks. They are uniformly of a stone ap- 

 parently identical with the beds in their immediate neigh- 

 bourhood^ and may often be connected with a neighbouring 

 reef of rock, both by the character of the stone and by 

 the style of wearing. A few may be found actually in 

 situ, as isolated pillars or tables_, not unlike the Brimham 

 rocks, near Ripley, or the rocks at Edale Head, in the 

 Peak, described by Mr. Hull. 



I have not found anywhere at the higher levels one block 

 of any other rock than mountain-limestone. 



Moreover it is not easy to say whence these blocks 

 could have been transported. The mountain-limestone 

 in Puffings Island and Anglesey, to the west, is from 

 300 to 400 feet lower down, and generally, I think, of 

 somewhat different character. That of the eastern por- 

 tion of the range of this formation (namely, at Penmaen 

 E/hos, to the east of Colwyn) is also somewhat different 

 in mineral character. I know of no other facts to support 

 such a variation of the scheme of the glacier- system of 

 North Wales as would carry blocks from east to west 

 across a gap like that of Rhos Bay. There is no lime- 

 stone between the Head and the Silurian centre of that 

 system in Snowdonia. 



iii. It appears to me, therefore, that these loose and 

 fixed rocks have no glacial origin, but are simply the re- 

 mains of the play or the rage of the waves about the head 

 of the new-born island, and, as such, emphatically raised 

 beach of the grandest kind. Similar masses may be seen 

 on the present beach, and on many a bare scar between 

 tides at the northerly foot of the Head. 



As has been already noticed, these blocks occur in great 

 abundance amongst the angular fragments that form the 

 great talus-heaps all round the Head, mixed with angular 

 masses of more recent fall. 



