THE SURFACE GEOLOGY OF HINGHAM. 



For the general outlines of this last chapter in the geology 

 of Hingham the reader is referred to the corresponding section 

 of Part I. These two areas (Nantasket and Cohasset, and 

 Hingham) are not only contiguous, but, so far as the surface 

 geology is concerned, they are actually continuous ; and the 

 only notable contrast which they present is this : the modified 

 drift (sandplains and eskers), which is so scantily developed 

 in Nantasket and Cohasset, is a very prominent feature of 

 Hingham. 



DRUMLINS, GLACIAL STRIAE, AND BOWLDERS. 



As in Nantasket and Cohasset, the unmodified drift or till, 

 so far as it is exposed at the surface, exists almost wholly in 

 the form of drumlins ; and, relatively to the area, they are 

 quite as numerous and important in this district as in the other. 

 The latter statement would, perhaps, be more than justified, 

 but for the vast accumulations of modified drift from which tlie 

 drumlins south of the railroad immediately arise and in which, 

 no doubt, some of the smaller ones are wholly concealed. All 

 the drumlins observed in Hingham are shown on the map in 

 precisely the same way as those of Nantasket and Cohasset, 

 with the exception of Prospect Hill (218 feet), which lies 

 just beyond the southern limit of the map, on the east side of 

 Bcechwood River. Prospect Hill is probably about equal in 

 size to the main Turkey Hill, and it is easily one of the largest 

 and most imposing drumlins in the Boston Basin. The eleva- 

 tions refer to sea level (mean tide). This is the topographic 

 height ; and in the case of the inland drumlins it is considerably 

 in excess of the true geologic height ; for the height of a 

 drumlin, regarded simply as a mound of bowlder-clay, should, 



