Glovelly. 43& 



hotter countries distant objects are muck sharper in definition, 

 and, so to speak, harder in tint. In Devon the magical blending" 

 of distinctness with softness is unsurpassed. 



Geologically, Clovelly is situated on the millstone grit which 

 underlies the coal measures — very imperfectly developed in 

 Devon, — and under this general title of the formation rocks of 

 considerable lithological difference are comprehended. The stra- 

 tification has been subjected to powerful and complicated dis- 

 turbances. It is plain, on the most casual inspection, that when 

 the beds were last made they were remarkably well shaken. In 

 many instances the strata are nearly vertical, and numerous cases 

 occur — two remarkable ones a little west of the pier — in which 

 hard firm beds of siliceous and aluminous stone have been bent 

 like twigs into round arches, both inverted and erect. Angular 

 arches are likewise common, and several adjacent cliffs have 

 their strata thrown into a series of V or W shapes, mostly 

 upside down. Further to the west, at Hartland Point and 

 Quay, the rocks are less varied in colour and the hills more 

 barren, but wilder and grander than at Clovelly. Near the 

 latter place a wreck recently occurred, and when the tide is 

 low the skeleton fragments of a ship caught in the sharp- 

 toothed jaws of dark rocks, and surrounded by splashing foam, 

 tells — at the time this is written — a striking story of the perils 

 of the sea. The strata vary in texture from hard compact stones 

 to easily splitting shales, with occasional marl. At Clovelly 

 the colours are purple, brown, yellow, red, and grey ; the natural 

 tints are heightened and still further varied by the ironmould 

 action of trickling water, and by glorious patches of orange 

 lichen (Sqiiamaria rnurontm), bright enough to be seen for 

 miles, when many square feet of rock are covered with this gor- 

 geous plant. The first artist who will do simple justice to these 

 coasts will have his reward, if he perseveres. Of course the 

 critics, whose eyes have never been purged of London smoke, 

 will declare the most faithful transcript of what exists, to be 

 "wrong," "impossible," "absurd," etc.; but when they have 

 sung this song long enough, they will try another, laud Mr. 



■ 's genius and insight to the skies, and claim to have been 



the first to recognise his merits and proclaim how true to 

 nature was each stroke of his brush. 



Clovelly is a splendid home for ferns. How many species 

 could be discovered in shady lanes, rocky clefts, and roads that 

 range from the sea level to nearly 600 feet above it, only a 

 very practised collector would venture to say. The most pre- 

 valent kinds are the lady fern, the broad fern, th,e male fern, 

 the Blechnum boreale, the hart's tongue, and the black 

 spleenwort, and Polystichum aculeatum. Of these the " ladies" 

 grow with wonderful luxuriance, and the broad ferns, with wide 



