XIII. Notice accompanying a Section of Heligoland^ drawn up from 

 the Communications of Ueutenants Dickinson and Mac Cullochy of 

 the Royal Engineers^ 



By John MacCulloch, M.D. F.L.S. 

 Member of the Geological Society. 



1 HAVE not been able to obtain any accurate account of the 

 changes which this island has undergone ; but it is said to be in a 

 state of rapid destruction from the encroachmeiits of the sea. It is 

 currently reported among the inhabitants that it has been reduced 

 within the last century from eleven miles in length to its present 

 dimensions of one mile. 



It seems to consist of strata of an indurated clay, alternating with 

 beds of grey limestone. These form an angle of 30° with the 

 horizon, and dip to the N. E. 



The clay is of a strong red colour, containing much oxide of iron, 

 and with it so much carbonate of lime as to effervesce considerably 

 with acids. The limestone is in some parts formed of various 

 marine remains, in others it is uniformly granular. Through both 

 these there are dispersed in various places deposits of copper ore in 

 small quantities. These consist of carbonate of copper, diffused 

 through the earthy matters ; and of crystallized masses of the same 

 substance ; and, more rarely, there are found lumps of red oxide 

 mixed with particles of grey ore and native copper. The beach is 

 covered with various siliceous pebbles, containing grains of the same 



