Vol. 63.] CARBONIFEROUS ROCKS OP DEVON AND CORNWALL. 3 



The rocks between Westward Ho ! and Clovelly, 1 and those 

 around Bude, 2 have been described, but apparently the greater 

 portion of this section remains virgin ground for the geologist. 

 The coast-line of West Devon and North Cornwall is remark- 

 able, not only for the wild and rugged nature of its scenery, 

 but as presenting probably the longest and finest natural section 

 of Upper Carboniferous rocks to be met with in this country. 

 From Westward Ho ! to Hartland Point, and far to the southward, 

 to within a few miles of Boscastle, a distance of roughly 50 miles 

 or more by the coast, the cliffs range from 50 to 500 feet in height, 

 with an average height of between 200 and 300 feet. Further, this 

 section, except at Wide-Mouth Bay to the south of Bude, is practi- 

 cally continuous ; and the shore-line is, as a rule, very difficult of 

 access, especially in the wilder regions to the south and east of 

 Hartland Point. Unlike some other portions of the Devon and 

 Cornish coasts, where the sea washes the cliffs continuously, there 

 is usually, in the district occupied by Carboniferous rocks, a beach 

 or strand in the numerous bays, and often a great accumulation of 

 the debris of marine erosion on the flanks of the promontories. 

 Most of the points can be passed between tide-marks at favourable 

 states of the tide, although severe scrambling is often necessary. 

 One of the chief difficulties experienced in exploring this coast- 

 line is due to the fact that means of access to the shore, known 

 in Devon as ' Mouths,' are few and far between, and the time 

 available for a traverse of the shore-line between them is greatly 

 limited by the tides. However, with comparatively few exceptions, 

 practically the whole of the coast-line occupied by Upper Carboni- 

 ferous rocks has been examined, and in certain instances important 

 sections have been repeatedly visited. 



Before passing to a more detailed description of these beds and 

 their fossils, I wish to express my thanks to many friends, who, in 

 different ways, have helped forward this work. 



To Mr. Inkermann Rogers, of Bideford, I am under very great 

 obligations, not only for the energy and patience with which he has 

 collected the fossils of the Bideford district for some years, but also 

 for accompanying me, often at personal inconvenience, on several 

 lengthy expeditions to the remoter regions of the western coast- 

 line. Much of what is now known of the Upper Carboniferous 

 flora and fauna of Devon and Cornwall is due to the success of his 

 prolonged efforts to obtain satisfactory specimens, in a region where 

 the results of collecting are for the most part highly discouraging. 

 I am also specially indebted to him for assistance in many minor, 

 local matters, and for the kind way in which he has always placed 

 his services at my disposal. 



I would also express my thanks to Mr. D. G. Lillie, of St. John's 

 College, Cambridge, who has rendered me great assistance in the 



1 Conybeare (14), Sedgwick & Murchison (40), De la, Beche (39), Ussher (92). 



2 McMahon (90). 



b2 



