CHAPTER II
.
_
-
The Sea Shore
THAT marrow strip between the high and low—water marks
of spring tides which we Call the sea shore is the haunt of a
rich and varied collection of plants and animals and has,
on account of its unique position at the junction of sea and
‘
land, an interest altogether out of proportion to its area.
Many books haVe been written about the sea shore and its
,
inhabitants, for the subject is a big one and teeming with
interest, but in this volume with its wider scope we can only
devote one chapter to it and endéavour to give some general
'
idea of the many fascinating problems it presents.
Those
whoare sufcieny interested are advised to seek furthet
information in the books recommended at the end of this
"
volume.
-
'
‘The extent of shore uncovered at low tidè naturally
.
depends on the sharpness of slope, and this ”depends'on a
variety of factors, the nature of the land, its conguration
and the action
of the tides, currents and rivers, being the
most important.
Anyone who has lived near the sea knows
how in some places the oùtgoing tide uncovers great areas
oi mud or sand, while in others, with a quickly descending
shingle beach, only a comparatively small area is uncovered
'
at the lowest spring tides.
It has been estimated that the
'
total area between tide marks in Great Britain and Ireland
amounts
to
some
620,000
-
We
can
distinguish
between three types
of shore, formed of rock, sand or mud,
though these may be mixed to a greater or less extent.
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26