Agnes was quite surprised to see how small the shell was of the little creature that had been working so hard; but they were not in a situation to stand much longer, and, indeed, they could not have remained so long had they not been in a hollow part of the rock. They then descended to the beach; and were quite astonished when they looked up to the cliff. The construction of Alum Bay is, indeed, very curious. On one side, it is bounded by high cliffs of chalk, and on the other, by horizontal strata of diluvial soil, which extend to Freshwater; but the most remarkable feature of the place consists of the vertical strata in the centre. At one end of these is the London clay, which is of a bluish grey; and then follow narrow vertical stripes of red and yellow ochre, fuller’s earth, black flints, and grey and white sand: the colours of all the different kinds being so brilliant as to be seen distinctly at a little distance. While Mrs. Merton and Agnes stood on the beach, they saw hanging above them a man engaged in taking birds’-eggs. He had driven a large stake into the top of the cliff; to which he had fastened a strong rope, with two sticks placed crossways, at the other end, for him to sit on. It made Agnes giddy to look at this man; and she gladly turned her head from him, to listen to what their guide was telling her mother about Alum Bay, and the manner in which bottles are filled with the sands. [Illustration: _Fig. 11._ SECTION OF ALUM BAY. ] “But why is it called Alum Bay?” asked Agnes. “Because alum is frequently picked up on the beach,” replied her mother; “and, I believe, copperas-stones are also found here. The white sand is used in making china and glass.” The guide now beckoned Agnes to advance; and, turning round the projecting rock, she saw the very Grampus Mr. Russell had spoken of lying on the shingles, which were a mass of stones projecting through the sea, at some distance from the shore. She was most excessively disappointed at first, as she thought the creature so very ugly; but, in a little time, she began to admire its glossy black skin, and the silvery-grey of the lower part. [Illustration: _Fig. 12._ GRAMPUS (_Delphinus Orca_). ] “Is it worth any money?” said Mrs. Merton. “Oh! yes,” said the guide; “it weighs three tons and a half; and the fisherman that found it has sold it for twenty-three pounds.” They now began to re-ascend the path they had taken to descend; and soon reached the summit of the cliff: after which they proceeded along it, till they arrived at the best point of view for seeing the Needles. “How dreadfully the wind blows!” said Agnes, as she wrapped her cloak more closely round her. “The wind always blows at the Needles, miss,” observed the guide. “And are those the Needles?” cried Agnes, as they descended the down low enough to catch a view of these celebrated rocks. “I declare they look more like thimbles.”