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Collins New Naturalist Library 4 Britain’s Structure and Scenery L. Dudley Stamp JAMES FISHER M.A. JOHN GILMOUR M.A. JULIAN HUXLEY M.A. D.Sc. F.R.S. L. DUDLEY STAMP C.B.E., B.A. D.Sc. PHOTOGRAPHIC EDITOR: ERIC HOSKING F.R.P.S. The aim of this series is to interest the general reader in the wild life of Britain by recapturing the inquiring spirit of the old naturalist. The Editors believe that the natural pride of the British public in the native fauna and flora, to which must be added concern for their conservation, are best fostered by maintaining a high standard of accuracy combined with clarity of exposition in presenting the results of modern scientific research. The plants and animals are described in relation to their homes and habitats and are portrayed in the full beauty of their natural colours, by the latest methods of colour photography and reproduction. TO A TRUE LOVER OF THE COUNTRYSIDE THE RT. HON. LORD JUSTICE SCOTT, P.C. TO SERVE UNDER WHOM FOR A YEAR IS A LIBERAL EDUCATION Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 HIGHLAND BRITAIN AND LOWLAND BRITAIN CHAPTER 2 READING THE ROCKS CHAPTER 3 EARTH HISTORY—TIME AND LIFE CHAPTER 4 THE GEOLOGICAL MAP CHAPTER 5 LAND FORMS AND SCENERY THE WORK OF RIVERS CHAPTER 6 THE WORK OF THE SEA CHAPTER 7 THE SCENERY OF THE SEDIMENTARY ROCKS CHAPTER 8 THE SCENERY OF LIMESTONE COUNTRY CHAPTER 9 THE LAND FORMS OF VOLCANIC COUNTRY CHAPTER 10 THE SCENERY OF GLACIATION CHAPTER 11 SOILS CHAPTER 12 GEOGRAPHICAL EVOLUTION CHAPTER 13 THE PLIOCENE PERIOD CHAPTER 14 THE GREAT ICE AGE AND AFTER CHAPTER 15 THE REGIONS OF BRITAIN CHAPTER 16 THE WEALD CHAPTER 17 EAST ANGLIA AND THE FENS CHAPTER 18 THE ENGLISH SCARPLANDS CHAPTER 19 THE ENGLISH MIDLANDS CHAPTER 20 THE SOUTH-WEST CHAPTER 21 THE WELSH MASSIF CHAPTER 22 THE NORTH OF ENGLAND—THE LAKES AND THE PENNINES CHAPTER 23 SCOTLAND CHAPTER 24 IRELAND IT IS ONE of the principal objects of the NEW NATURALIST series to present in simple language to the lay reader the results of recent scientific work in the many fields covered by the general term “Natural History.” Another is to take the results of laboratory research into the realm of field studies and particularly to recapture the spirit of the old naturalists whose keen delight was in the study of animals and plants in their native haunts. The present volume may be regarded in many respects as a background volume to the whole series in that it attempts to trace the evolution, through the many millions of years of geological time, of the geography of the British Isles and so to present a general view of the stage and setting of Britain’s Natural History. The task has been rendered especially difficult for several reasons. In the first place it has been necessary to compress a large section of the science of geology into a very small space; in the second place it has been necessary to eliminate a whole scientific terminology which to the geologist makes for brevity and precision but which would be unfamiliar to the non-geologist. In addition, any attempt to reconstruct the geography of past ages is beset with pitfalls, so that the generalisations here presented may appear to have a definiteness which is not warranted by the facts. They must be regarded as liable to constant revision and even now, as the results of the borings undertaken in the intensive war-time search for oil are studied, they may be greatly modified. THE EDITORS
