44 
W. Pengelly on the Red Sandstones, 
their small dimensions their total effect in each set must be 
inconsiderable, and probably the one will go far to neutralize the 
other. 
The following considerations render it eminently improbable 
that the formation is traversed by any important undetected faults 
of the kind supposed. Were the strata perfectly homogeneous 
throughout the entire section it would be difficult, perhaps impos- 
sible, in the absence of fossils, to show that, at least, some of the 
numerous valleys do not occupy great fault lines which have again 
and again brought into the section beds which otherwise would 
have disappeared. But with strata so dissimilar as conglomerates, 
sandstones, and marls, and with these subdivided into very 
distinct and easily recognized groups, it would be easy to detect a 
fault of much value, or rather it would be difficult not to detect it. 
Now nothing appears more certain, with the exception perhaps of 
those immediately east and west of Beer, and those also on the 
opposite sides of the landslip, than that those beds have disap- 
peared for ever which have once dipped below the beach or sea 
level. It is true that there are conglomerates from the Exe 
southwards, between the Straight Point and Budleigh Saltorton, 
and between the Otter and Ladrum bay ; but it is impossible to 
mistake any one of these series for either of the others. For 
example, the second of these — the " Pebble Bed " — is not a faulted 
portion of the conglomerates which prevail between Exmouth and 
Torbay. We have seen that it is formed of materials of a totally 
different character, much more distant derivation, and accumu- 
lated under very dissimilar conditions. Nor is it repeated in the 
conglomerates east of it : and the latter, in like manner, are 
incapable of being confounded with those South of the Exe. 
Again, Marls prevail between Exmouth and the "Pebble Bed," 
and from Ladrum bay to the termination of the formation in 
Charton bay, but in different areas they have very distinct 
characters. Between Ladrum bay and Sidmouth they contain 
ovoid goodes lined with crystals of carbonate of lime; from 
