2B0 



Tire MENDITS: A GEOLOmCAL KEVEIUE. 



central core of the ridgo-fold wliicli was formed at tlie close 

 of PalsBOzoic times. This core better resisted the action 

 of that ceaseless and insidious sub-aerial denudation which, 

 during the long continental conditions of Permian and early 

 Triassic times, was lowering the surface of the surrounding 

 coal-measures that lay in the troughs on either side of the 

 ridge. And I am inclined to believe that many of the jnost 

 striking Mondip valleys and gorges resulted from the fretful 

 file-like action of torrential i-ivers which leapt down the 

 flanks of Mendip at a time when that range formed the up- 

 lands of a desert continent visited at times during the winter 

 months by occasional storms and deluges of rain. Be that 

 as it may, there can be little doubt that not less than 11,000 

 feet of rock had been removed from the summit of the 

 Mendips before they again wank beneath the waters. 



Let us try and picture the view from Mendip over the 

 deep blue waters of the broadening Triassic lake. An in- 

 telligent microlestes standing on IMackdown (Map 4), then 

 much higher than now, would have seen the suit waters of 

 the lake encompassing the island on all sides. Away to the 

 S.W. he would have seen another large island, the Quantock 

 Isle, and beyond that the western shore line of the lake 

 rising into high ground in Exmoor. To the N.W. the shore 

 line would again bo clearly visible passing along the rising 

 land of Wales and Monmouthshire, and trending northwards 

 till lost to view. Between Exmoor and Wales his eye would 

 have followed an inlet narrowing westwards (instead of, as 

 now, eastwards) along the Severn sea. The main Mendip Isle 

 on which ho stood must have ended westward in two promon- 

 tories,— a deep bay running in between,— the more southerly 

 of which, now Wavering Down, was almost isolated from 

 the main island. Purther westward, Banwoll, Bioadon, 

 Brean, and Worle stood out as separate islets. Eastwards 



