NOTES ON THE GLACIAL PHENOMENA OF WASTDALE. 479 



outlines. Its western shoulder forms " The Screes," a range of preci- 

 pitous cliffs overtopping banks of shiDgle which sweep down in one 

 sheer unbroken plane into the deep waters of the lake. The position 

 of the rocks on each side of the lake, together with the straightness of 

 the southern line of cliffs, are in favour of the supposition that Wast- 

 dale has been formed along the line of a great fracture. Yewbarrow, 

 on the northern side, is one of the most picturesque hills I have ever 

 seen. Capped by vertical cliffs, which ascend almost to a point, its 

 sides fall away on either hand in exceedingly graceful outlines, to 

 which I would draw the attention of Mr. Ruskin, as they illustrate his 

 doctrine of the curves of nature. It is in vain for me to attempt to 

 describe the various aspects which the landscape here assumes, with 

 the most solemn and wild features she has also combined her most 

 graceful proportions. 



On my former visit to the Lakes, I became convinced that this 

 mountain-chain had been a " centre of dispersion," from which 

 glaciers descended in every direction seaward. In Grisedale, I had 

 found striae ranging north. In the neighbourhood of Ambleside, 

 south and south-east ; but I had never an opportunity presented of 

 observing a westerly striation. I was therefore delighted (the less 

 enthusiastic reader will, I hope, pardon the use of the only word 

 expressive of my feelings on the occasion) on finding just above the 

 village of Strands, near the western entrance of Wastdale, a boss of 

 syenite polished, and distinctly marked with grooves ranging out to 



sea. Further up the valley, I obtained at least six good observa- 

 tions, and the invariable direction was west, or nearly so. The 

 highest observation was made on porphyry, near the foot of Yew- 

 barrow. 



The upper limit of the glaciation, along the centre of the dale, was 

 easily ascertained. The rocks, from the edge of the lake up to an 



