504 Mr. Henslow’s Supplementary Observations to 
whole country consists of diluvial matter, raised in many places to 
a considerable height above the level of the sea, excepting to the 
north of the Balia Chirrym hills, from whence there extends, to the 
point of Aire over two miles, a low sandy plain covered with rolled 
pebbles. 
Dr„ Berger has remarked, p. 84, that it is by some asserted, that 
the sea loses ground here at the rate of two yards per, anjium, but 
from enquiries made on this point, I am inclined to think this 
circumstance overrated. Though all who have lived long in the 
neighbourhood allow that there has been a very sensible increase of 
land within their memory, the mean rate at the utmost would not 
appear to exceed half that mentioned. 
The cause of this increase may possibly be ascribed to the tides 
which act upon the island. These enter the Irish channel at two 
quarters, that from the south running up the island meets the 
northern between Kirk Maugh old and the point of Aire, where 
their united efforts form the flood, and their strength being 
exhausted by opposing forces, we may imagine that they would 
leave deposited whatever each brought with it, causing an extent of 
shallow water for a considerable distance. It will readily be seen 
that the body of water raised over this deposite would not, on 
subsiding, produce the same effect in removing as a current in 
accumulating it ; thus permanent additions would daily take place, 
and the portion contiguous to high water mark become gradually 
covered with soil and vegetation till it is at length removed without 
the influence of the tide. The numerous blocks of various 
descriptions and magnitude found along the north coast, are 
probably derived from some distant spot, for although several of 
these have doubtless fallen from the cliffs, yet their vast number 
precludes the idea of all having come from thence, more especially 
