334 The American Geologist. December, i8S9 
and water. This is practically the conclusion expressed by 
Prof. Tarr. These forelands are functions of surface area and 
general depth of water exposed to the wind, rapidity and char- 
acter of rock supply, change of outline of shore, change of sub- 
marine topography, and direction, intensity and duration of 
wave action. The equation is a very complicated one. The 
origin of the forms is usually, but not always, at a point of 
change in shore outline. In places it appears as though sub- 
marine topography must determine their presence, especially 
a shoaling of the water, making the wave lose force. In other 
cases material from a good feeding-ground travels along a 
nearly straight shore, till the waves lose their power with age 
and can no longer bear their load. Here a foreland begins. 
(2) On rocky shores in general, it is eminently probable that 
waves have a much larger share in constructive work than has 
been accorded them by at least one school of writers. On un- 
consolidated shores of fine material, the nature of the operation 
is still open to question ; but on rocky shores I think it is ob- 
servable that very many forelands are made chiefly by waves. 
(3) Each form, or at most each group of forms, must be studied 
by itself, through direct observation in the field, and all the 
environing factors carefully weighed, before the origin can be 
decided upon. On many coasts each case needs separate 
study. In such a region as the Bras d'Or lakes, which consti- 
tute for this purpose a small physiographic province, it is easy 
to determine that the conditions are similar throughout ; and 
generalization sufficient to cover this area is not so hazardous 
after a fair number of typical forms have been studied. 
Grozvth of Blunted Cusps in St. Patrick Chafinel. 
Three miles and three and one-quarter miles east of the 
village of Whycocomagh, at the western end of St. Patrick 
channel, are two small forelands which do not fit exactly into 
any classification yet made. They lie, like many similar ones 
in other portions of the lakes, at points about midway between 
headlands. Some of the latter are scarcely more than a hun- 
dred yards apart, and tlie coves are not deep. The neighboring 
shoreline is only gently irregular. It has not been straightened 
much, but its outline reflects that of the initial stage after 
drowning. Were the coves deep, the deposits would partake 
