80 BULLETIN OF THE 



Ridge block, and to the southwest in Notch Mountain block ; and from 

 this it is apparent that the faults are of the usual pattern, with heave 

 on the southeastern side. The movement on each one may be one 

 hundred or more feet. 



A pleasant spot for lunch is found at the Cold Spring, in the ravine 

 near the Poorhouse. This spring is fed in part by melting snow or 

 ice hidden under the great trap blocks that have fallen from the cliff of 

 Notch Mountain, and long ago attracted notice.^ A water-cure sanita- 

 rium was built near it on the bench of the anterior sheet ; but proving 

 unsuccessful, it' was bought by the city of Meriden for a Poorhouse; 

 it is not likely that any other similar institution possesses so delightful 

 a view as is here spread out to the eastward, even as far as Higby 

 Mountain. Before following the wood road to the reservoir, the open- 

 ings in the western end of Cat Hole anterior should be examined, as 

 they show a peculiar structure, perhaps indicative of ropy lava flow. 

 Sandstone is seen lying close over the anterior just south of the Poor 

 House in Notch Mountain block, and a small piece of vesicular trap was 

 found enclosed therein. 



Broad views may be had by climbing the face of Notch Mountain in- 

 stead of following the road through the wood below. A noteworthy 

 feature is the furrowing of the top of the mountain by several ravines, 

 parallel to the general direction of the neighboring faults. These and 

 the crevice mentioned in the terminal bluff of Chauncy Peak are the 

 topographic expression of small fractures similar to those dissected in 

 the quarry bluff. The view from the southwestern bluff of Notch 

 Mountain opens the West Peak block to easy inspection. The fine 

 cliff of its main sheet rises from the farther side of the reservoir, and its 

 anterior sheet forms a broad bench (11) to the south. On descending 

 to the reservoir an exposure of red shales (10) is seen in the roadside, 

 a little above the vesicular back of the anterior trap ; its beds strike N. 

 30° W, and dip 6° N.E. 



The reservoir valley has a little more northerly course — about N. 

 15° E. — than that followed by the faults hitherto met. For some 

 time it appeared to be an exception to the general rule ; but closer ex- 

 amination has led me to conclude that the valley is not coincident with 

 the fault. This is certainly a hazardous conclusion, and not to be 

 lightly accepted. The following facts lead to it. Toward the northern 

 end of the reservoir, a hill of heavy trap (14) stands below the western 

 face of Notch Mountain, and more in accord with the attitude of the 

 ^ Silliman, Amer. Journ. Science, 1st series, iv. 1822, 174. 



