141 
'lliG subject may be divided into tliree parts (1) The Geolo'^y 
in wliich Ave must trace tlie history of the rocks or sub-strata, ami 
their influence on tlie form of the ground; (2) The Physical 
GcOgiaphy, ill ivliich Ave must consider the modifying influence 
0 lain, rivers, and sea on the laml in recent times, and tlie 
introduction of the forms of life, Avithout Avhich our scenery 
Avould indeed be bare and uninteresting ; and (3) The ArchaiolocT, 
under Avhicli heading Ave must briefly sketch the artificial features, 
or tlie great changes brought about by man. 
I. Geological Influences. 
u lai J. 1„„„, wlucli (poetically speakiii-) has tonja.1 so mucli 
to hanlon an. fnrtmv the features of our ol.ler tracts of laud in 
le l,orth ami West, luis loft but goutlo traces of its liaml in the 
^Mst. The strata beneath us Ai'crc among the last laid down ; they 
have not been subjected to the great disturbances Avhich have 
oldod tlie rocks and upraised our laud in other places tivo or three 
thousand feet, nor to the groat heat and pressure which have 
iirned Uie soft clays and sands and calcareous muds of the early 
epochs into slate and quartzite arid marble. 
Although in some degree hardened by the pressure of overlyin- 
I epo.its, or by local chemical agents, our rocks in 2sorfolk hai'e 
suflered no great alteration since they Avere laid down. Slow and 
gradual depressions and upheavals of the area there have been in 
past times, for the strata Avere most of them formed under Avater 
and some at a considerable depth beloAv it. * 
Our olJcst deposits have little influence on the present scenery, 
llie earliest, known as the Kimeridge Clay, is e.vposed on the 
western margin of the county, below the Greensand hills of 
.Sandringh.™ forming a low-lying tmek that merges into the 
alluvial flat of the Tenland. This formation, which may underlie 
a considerable portion of Norfolk, consists chiefly of a marine clay. 
. luch of It was probably brought into the sea by rivers, olon-r 
n hose banks many huge reptiles disported themselves, and some of 
these, borne into the deep for our ultimate benefit, have been 
immortalized under the names of Om^aurics, Cetiosanm,, and 
nc^wsmm^. The nearest land in those days may have been in 
A'OL. III. 
II II 
