in the Isle of Wight. 215 



agreeable. It was in walking along the shore, a few years ago, that 

 Mr. Water worth's attention was accidentally directed to this spring, 

 which he traced to its present source, by observing black stains 

 formed by rivulets flowing from that spot. 



With regard to the mineralogical history of that district, I have 

 been favoured through the kindness of my friend Dr. Berger, who 

 visited the spot very lately, with so much more accurate an account 

 of it than I should, from my own observation, have been able to offer, 

 that I shall make no apology for transcribing it in his own words. 



" The aluminous chalybeate spring," says Dr. Berger, " issues 

 " from the cliff on the S.S.W. coast of the Isle of Wight, below St. 

 " Catherine's Sea Mark, in the parish of Chale. The bearing of the 

 " needles from the spot is N.W. while that of Rockenend, not far 

 " distant, is S.E. by S. 



" The elevation of the spot, as far as I could ascertain it by the 

 " barometer, is one hundred and thirty feet above the level of the 

 " sea. Its distance from the shore may be about one hundred and 

 " fifty yards. 



*• The wafer is received into a bason formed in the rock for that 

 " purpose, and flows, as I was informed, at the rate of two or three 

 " hogsheads in a day. Its temperature I found to be 51°, that of the 

 " atmosphere being 48° ; and it may be worth while to observe that 

 '' ihis temperature corresponds with that of several springs of pure 

 " water which I have met with in the island. 



" The lower part of the cliff is rather incumbered with masses of 

 " rock, or portions of soil, which have fallen from the upper strata. 

 " Immediately above these, the spring issues from a bed of loose 

 *' quartzose sandstone containing oxyd of iron. This sand, in which 

 " vestiges of vegetable matter are discoverable,* alternates with a pur- 



* On being sprinkled on a heated shovel, this sand scinfillates as if undergoing a 



