ALONG SHORE 
141 
breaking crest may often be followed by the 
eye for along distance down the shore. This 
side thrust of the waves has one very positive 
effect. It wears away the shore, and that, 
too, faster than any direct blow. The side 
push works in swirls, sand is swept along the 
beach and gradually dragged into the sea by the 
under-currents to be carried off and deposited 
on some near-by shoal or bar, and the tendency 
is to hollow out the beach-line in half-circles. 
Asaresult we have the beautiful sickle-moon 
curves that mark the sand-beaches on almost 
every sea-coast. Next to the lines of the snow- 
drifts, they are as graceful, perhaps, as any- 
thing the eye may see—save always the lines 
of a flowing river. The best place to see them 
is from a high cliff, looking down along the 
shore. The curves of bay and beach will then 
appear quite perfect. 
The same form of wave-action works similar 
results upon the rocks of a coast, but with 
less ease and uniformity. The water, striking 
full-faced against the rock surfaces, is simply 
shattered into foam, but coming diagonally 
it gains cutting power by a rasp and a grind 
all along the bases. And in this grind the 
loose stones and bowlders, hurled and rolled 
Wear upon 
the beach, 
Curves of 
sand- 
beaches, 
Wave-action 
on the rocks, 
