234 Messrs. Buckland's and Co^y-beari:.'s Observations on the 



the metal throughout the whole country did not depend on its cost of produc- 

 tion in the richest mining- districts^ and might therefore be remunerative in 

 some poorer district sufficiently remote from the markets of the most produc- 

 tive in metal. 



Manganese is dug about East Harptree ; and was so formerly, but spa- 

 ringly, in a vein on the summit of the limestone ridge about a mile east of 

 Shute-shelf. 



2. On the western frontier of the Coal-basin. 



We will first notice two ridges of limestone, those of Worleberry and Wood- 

 spring, which may be considered as appendages indifferently either to the 

 southern or western frontier. They lie to the north of Loxton-hill, the west- 

 ern extremity of the Mendip chain, at the distance of two and four miles re- 

 spectively, and run from east to west parallel to that chain and to one another. 



Worleberry -hill*, the most southerly of them, is about 400 feet in height, 

 and nearly 3 miles in length. Its strata dip to the south at an angle of 45°. 

 On the east, at the village of Worle, they rise abruptly from beneath horizontal 

 beds of conglomerate and lias ; and terminate on the west in a precipitous cliff 

 facing the sea. On the south the ridge of Worleberry is probably united be- 

 neath Loxton moor to the northern flank of the Mendip chain, since they dip 

 towards one another in opposite directions : on the east, it seems to be con- 

 nected with the southern flank of Broadfield Down, which is equidistant from 

 the northern flank of the Mendip chain, and dips towards it, like Worleberry, 

 at an angle of 45°. On the west, the low island of Breanback is a continuation 

 of the same ridge, which probably reappears also in Platholm f , a low level 

 islet on the same line of bearing in the mid-channel. This islet consists en- 

 tirely of mountain limestone ; on the south-eastern side it presents cliffs about 

 40 feet high. The strata are saddle-shaped, and dip to the south on the 

 southern side of the island, and to the north on the northern. The apex of 

 the saddle is well marked in the eastern cliffs, but in the western the strata 

 undulate considerably. On the north-east side is a small bay, covered with 



* In the encampment, which crowns the western termination of this ridge, the multiplied lines 

 of defence which traverse the hill on the land side, render it one of the roost singular specimens of 

 ancient fortification. The whole ridge is covered with traces of old inclosure and circular hol- 

 lows. 



t This island has been erroneously coloured in Mr. Greenough's Map as consisting of dolomitic 

 conglomerate. It affords pasturage to a few sheep. There is a farm-house upon it, in the walled 

 garden of which myrtles flourish in the open air ; though the sea-breeze cuts off every tree in more 

 exposed situations. There is a light-house on the highest ground at the southern point of the 

 island. 



