STATHAM 
: — ON THIC GEOLOGY OF THE SCILLY ISLES. 
19 
Lign. L— Section N. Side of Parmelliii 
Bay, beneath Mount Flagon. 
composed of decayed vegetable matter, and in many places largely 
intermixed with sand, either blown np from the adjoining beach or 
derived from intermixture with the underlying stratum ; 2d. A fine 
white or ash-coloured sand, in some places, as in the pit below the 
National Schools, containing fragments of shells ; 3d. A dark reddish- 
or chocolate-brown clay, in many parts of considerable thickness, and 
having angular blocks of half- decomposed granite disseminated through 
it ; 4th. A stratum of loose grit, or rubbly granite, locally called " ram," 
sometimes so comminuted as to look, at a short distance off, like 
a bed of cream-coloured limestone or sandstone, but more frequently 
coarse, and, in the portions resting upon the granite, mingled with large 
fragmentary masses of that rock. Finally, in the low and marshy 
grounds, as at Holy Vale, and in the 
neighbourhood of Carnfriars, traces of 
a band of whitish pipe-clay have been 
found, the position of which is most pro- 
bably to be placed above the last 
deposit, although I was not able to meet 
with any section by which I could ascer- 
tain its exact order. The best locality 
for seeing at one view these various 
beds, is a pit immediately below Mount 
Flagon, on the bridle-path leading 
towai'ds Porthloo Bay. The accom- 
panying diagram will give a fair idea 
of it. Between 3 and 4 the road-path 
intervenes, and No. 5 constitutes the 
low cliff at this part of Permellin Bay. 
The stratum No. 2 seems to take its 
rise a little beyond Carn Morval Point, 
1 . Black surface-soil, mixed with sand 
where it can be seen capping the cliff, (isinciies). 
'^r o '2. F'ne ash-coloured sand (5 feet). 
which is there much higher, and run- ^- R«Jd>^ii and chocoiate-coioured 
~ ' clay, having large blocks of coarse 
ning along tiie line of the coast. No. 2 s^nite imbedded (7 feet). 
^ " 4. Grit or coarse decomposed granite 
gradually tliickens as it approaches St. g^anl"; {2ote!r' 
Mary's Bay, where it assumes the Granite-rock, 
greatest depth, exhibiting, in the neighbourhood of the National 
School, and in a section nearly opposite the Church, sandpits of con- 
c 2 
