148 
BOVEY HEATHFIELD. 
a situation below the sea-mark implies the existence 
of a lake, and it has been asserted on the best 
authority, that a part of this spotis so circumstanced. 
It would also seem however, that a position on a 
level with the sea argues some accumulation of 
lacustrine water, and consequently it may be infer¬ 
red that the said tract of alluvial ground having the 
character of a bog or morass in one direction, suffers 
the escape of the river water from the adjacent hills 
by means of subterranean egress. It is asserted in 
Moore’s Devon that the Heathfield is 50 feet 
above the sea ! ! How is this contradiction to be 
reconciled ? 
Plan of Slap ton Ley. 
By far the most important collection of water 
coming any way under the denomination of a lake, 
is Slapton Ley , and which has, as w T ill be seen, 
characters in some respects peculiar. Certain in¬ 
considerable hills overlooking the sea contribute 
three small streams to it. Between the points of 
land of two hills which stretch farthest out to the 
Channel, there runs a ridge or bar of rock, and on 
