100 The Rev. W. Buckland on the Excavation of Valleys, ^c. 



all these quarries were originally connected in one continuous plane across 

 the now void space which forms the valley of the Axe*. 



The fact of excavation is evident from simple inspection of the manner in 

 which the valleys intersect the coast, on the east of Sidmouth and the east of 

 Lyme, as represented in the annexed views (Plate XIV.) ; and it requires 

 but little effort, either of the eye or the imagination, to restore and fill up the 

 lost portions of the strata, that form the flanks of the valleys of Salcomb, Duns- 

 comb, and Branscomb, on the east of Sidmouth ; or of Charmouth, Seatown, 

 and Bridport, on the east of Lyme. By prolonging the corresponding extre- 

 mities of the strata on the opposite flanks, we should entirely fill up the valleys, 

 and only restore them to the state of continuity in which they were originally 

 deposited. 



An examination of the present extent and state of the remaining portions of 

 the chalk formation within the district we are considering, will show to what 

 degree the diluvian waters have probably interrupted its original continuity. 

 The insulated mass of chalk, which at Beer Head composes the entire thickness 

 of the cliff, rises gradually westward with a continual diminution and removal 

 of its upper surface ; till after becoming successively more and more thin, on 

 the cliffs of Branscomb, Littlecomb, and Dunscomb, it finds in the latter its 

 present extreme western boundary : beyond this boundary, on the top of Sal- 

 comb Hill and of all the highest table lands and insulated summits of the inte- 

 rior, from the ridges that encircle the vales of Sidmouth and Honiton to the 

 highest summits of Blackdown, and even of the distant and insulated ridge of 

 Haldon on the west of the valley of Exe, beds of angular and unrolled chalk 

 flints (which can be identified by the numerous and characteristic organic 

 remains which they contain) are of frequent occurrence ; similar beds are 

 found also on the green sand summits that encircle the valleys of Charmouth 

 and Axminster ; other large and insulated masses of chalk occur, along the 

 coast from Lyme nearly to Axmouth, and in the interior, at Widworthy, Mem- 

 bury, White Stanton, and Chard ; and these at distances varying from ten to 

 thirty miles from the present termination of the chalk formation in Dorset- 

 shire ; though within the limits of the original escarpment of the green sand. 



These facts concur to show that there was a time when the chalk covered 

 all those spaces on which the angular chalk flints are at this time found : and 



* The section of these quarries is also important as proving the alternation of white lias with 

 blue : it is more common to find the white variety occupying only the lower regions of this for- 

 mation ; but in the case before us there is not only this alternation, but each individual slab of 

 blue lias is inclosed within an outer crust or case of white lias ; the colour of which passes by 

 insensible gradations into blue. 



