BRITISH ASSOCIATION MEETING. 



451 



vraves rushing into them during storms. More or less rapidly the pillars 

 waste ; at length, during a heavy gale, one or more of them snaps across, the 

 superincumbent fabric, if such it may be called, trembles, totters, falls ; a new 

 cliff is revealed, protected awhile from the fate of its predecessor by the natural 

 breakwater which the fallen mass forms. This, however, is merely a question 

 of time ; the materials are needed where constructive agencies are forming new 

 strata, every tide carries off a portion of the debris, the whole is at length 

 removed, an attack is made on the new and unprotected cliff, and the entire 

 process is repeated with but little variation. 



In some cases, however, the mode of attack differs from the above ; the 

 waves first proceed to detach a large mass of rock by eroding the cliff at two 

 somewhat distant points, and in no long time convert the interjacent portion 

 into a sort of peninsula ; by continually wasting the isthmus is gradually nar- 

 rowed, until at last the devoted mass is completely insulated, after which its 

 destruction is more rapid. It is astonishing, however, to observe how very 

 long many extremely thin fragments of such islets endure as relics of an ancient 

 coast-line. Those who have visited South Devon will probably call to mind 

 many such fragment between Dawlish and Teignmouth, where this mode of 

 encroachment is more common than in Torbay. 



Though, as has been already stated, the other rocks of the district are not 

 wasted so rapidly as those we have just mentioned, nevertheless the destruction 

 of the slates is by no means inconsiderable ; their comparatively soft material, 

 and their fissile and jointed character, render them incapable of a very pro- 

 tracted resistance : and when carefully noted, even the hard limestone itself is 

 found to perish more rapidly than might have been expected. The geologist 

 who systematically, and in something like orderly succession, visits and revisits 

 the various parts of the coast, will rarely fail to detect changes in the features 

 of even his limestone haunts ; a fresh scar will probably be found graven on 

 the face of the cliff since last he saw it. 



Several circumstances concur to bring about this result. Beds composed of ■ 

 small fragments or scales of argillaceous matter, interstratified with 

 the limestone, especially in the Hope's Nose district, waste under the ordi- 

 nary action of the sea much more rapidly than the calcareous strata, and thus 

 leave considerable vacuities or interstices among the latter. During tempests 

 the sea rushes into these recesses or excavations, and being forced by the 

 enormous pressure of the waves which tower above into the numerous crevices 

 formed by the joints, cleavage, and fissures of other kinds, which, as has been 

 already stated, abound here, rips the rock to an extent scarcely to be credited 

 by those who have never examined such cliffs after a violent storm. Again, 

 between Meadfoot beach and Torquay harbour, the limestone beds are in some 

 places vertical, and reach a considerable height ; here, too, similar interspaces 

 are found, caused, however, in this instance by the destruction of the ordinary 

 coarse calcareous shale of the district, which is so frequently found lying 

 between the limestone beds. The sea, driven like a wedge into these openings 

 by the resistless waves which heavy south-easterly gales produce occasionally 

 on this coast, tears off masses of limestone many feet in length and breadth, 

 and of considerable thickness. This was remarkably seen during the violent 

 and too fatal storm of October 26th, 1859, when the limestone cliffs suffered 

 in this way to a very great amount. 



The storm I have just mentioned was unusually destructive on the coast of 

 South Devon. The day from its commencement was raw and gusty, the clouds, 

 threatening and ominous, hurried hastily along ; a sea, heavier far than the 

 existing force of the wind would account for, fell on the shore, and was ex- 

 plained by seafaring men as the result of " a heavy gale in the offing, which 

 would come home by and by." They prepared accordingly, and " made all 

 snug." The moorings of the shipping in Torquay harbour were carefully 



