552 MINERALOGY OF THE REDHEAl). 



gether by lime-spar, which occurs in great dhun- 

 dance. 



Proceeding about a mile to the north-east of 

 the harbour, the high cliffs of the Redhead com- 

 mence. Here the sandstone is of a more compact 

 texture, and appears better able to resist the at- 

 tacks of the waves, so that while the strata to the 

 south haye been worn down, and the bay of 

 Aberbrothick now occupies their place, those to 

 the north, still form high and lofty precipices, and 

 yield but slowly to the action of the sea. In ex- 

 amining bays and arms of the sea, we invariably 

 find, as in this instance, that they are situated in 

 softer strata than those which occur on the neigh- 

 bouring projecting shores ; and the rocks which 

 form the base of valleys, are less compact in their 

 texture than those which constitute the surround- 

 ing hills, — facts which prove, that many of the 

 inequalities of the earth's surface owe their exis- 

 tence to the long- continued action of air and water. 



The sandstone on this part of the coast, is of a 

 pale reddish-brown colour, minutely freckled with 

 grey. It frequently presents narrow stripes and 

 circular spots of ash-grey, or primrose-yellow, and 

 sometimes whole beds of a white colour, may be 

 observed. It appears to consist of minute grains 

 of sand, with a few scales of mica, connected by 

 a basis of iron-shot clay- marl. The particles of 

 sand in some cases are so numerous, that the stone 

 has a very coarse texture, and in many instances 

 appears in the form of gravelstone. When this 



