378 Mr. Horner on the Geology of the 



in determinate forms, nor any appearance of its being accompanied 

 by rock salt. 



§. 47. Near Blue Anchor tlie cliff is composed of a blackish 

 grey clay, containing thin beds of a slightly effervescent argillaceous 

 5tone, and which appear to graduate insensibly into the clay. 

 These are penetrated in all directions by numerous veins of gyp- 

 sum, the thickest being parallel with the strata. The same varieties 

 are found here as in the part of the cliff near Watchet, though not 

 so abundantly ; and although there is a very great difference in 

 the colour of the gypseous rock near Blue Anchor, and in the mode 

 of penetration of the gypsum, I have littk doubt of its belonging 

 to the same formation as the red rock. The strata are very much 

 disturbed, and in one place they form a complete arch dipping 

 south-west and north-east within the space of 50 yards. 



All along the bottom of the cliffs where the gypsum is found 

 they are hollowed out by the wav€s dashing upon them, and 

 where the strata dip towards the sea the upper beds hang over a 

 considerable way in the form of a Chinese roof. Rills of water 

 flow over them in many places, and have worn deep channels* 

 Dr. Maton, in his Tour through the Western Counties, when 

 describing these cliffs, says, that " the gypsum may be seen con- 

 creting under our eyes." A more attentive examination would 

 have satisfied him that there is only decay^ and no production of 

 new matter on this coast. 



§ 48. The last appearance of the lyas «trata on the shore is 

 about a quarter of a mile westward of Blue Anchor, where there 

 is a low cliff for a short space, not rising above 12 feet. But even 

 in this limited extent the strata exhibit great disturbance. They 

 consist of a yellow clay, containing thin strata of limestone of a 

 cream colour, some slenda: v-eins -of gypsum, and small, earthyj 



