The Evolution of a Coast-Line. By William Ashton. (Stanford. 10s.
net.)—Mr. Ashton's interesting book, embodying portions of a former work, The Battle of Land and Sea, is a close study of the West coast from Barrow to Aberystwyth, with many map, and plans. He holds that this coast has gradually subsided and he adduces a good deal of local evidence in support of his theory. For example, a Roman road runs to the south-western corner of Morecambe Bay, west of Heysham, and appears to have served a Roman port the remains of which may perhaps be traced two miles out to sea. The Welsh coast between Conway and Llandudno and the Menai Straits has certainly subsided ; the Straits were far narrower in comparatively recent times than they are now. Similar evidence is adduced for the South Carnarvon- shire coast. Mr. Lloyd George's Criccieth has suffered much from erosion, though to the eastward the patient industry and self-sacrifice of William Madocks a century ago reclaimed thous- ands of acres in the Glaslyn Estuary, including the site of the new town of Portmadoc. Mr. Ashton's book deserves the attention of anyone interested in coast erosion.
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