BRITISH ASSOCIATION MEETING. 
451 
waves 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 
clilF 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 wastmg 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 brin^ 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 consideraole 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, feU on the shore, and was ex- 
plained by seafaring men as the result of " a heavy gale in the oflSng, which 
would come home by and by." They prepared accordingly, and " made all 
snug." The moorings of the shipping in Torquay harbour Mere cai-efully 
