52 LOWER BEDS OF THE RANGE. 



north and east than in the counties traversed by the range in its southern prolongation, it is 

 likely that it may have been derived from that source, possibly from the basin east of the Sierra 

 Nevada, which may not have risen fully up at the time of the deposition of these beds. This 

 bed is not found in the ranges lying to the west. The older conglomerate (serpentine) is derived 

 from the degradation of the serpentine and trappean ranges north and east of this. Neither of 

 these conglomerate beds contain any trace of fossils. Of the fossils of the sandstone beds notice 

 will be made elsewhere. It may be mentioned here that the fine clay bed, the uppermost de- 

 scribed, (A No. 5,) is found on both sides of the range where examined ; it was also found 

 further east, on Panza, (fifteen miles,) in Santa Margarita valley, San Luis Obispo valley, and 

 thence on the shore line to near Santa Barbara, a remarkable extent of country, forming a line 

 of sixty miles, from north to south, and doubly remarkable when the light and tender nature of 

 the stratum — a soft clay rock, impressible with the nail — is considered. 



Figure 5 of plate 2 illustrates the positions of the several strata described. Figures 2 and 3 

 of plate 1 also reveal the constitution of the chain. Beds 2 and 3 B are the sandstones of 

 Panza, which can be traced to the Monte Diablo range ; they are also the lower sandstones of 

 Saint Inez, where they are described. Bed 4 B, east side, is the Santa Margarita fossiliferous 

 beds, described when treating of that valley. 



The western slopes of this range in Cuyama valley are terraced for a length of 30 miles ; on 

 the eastern side they are terraced also in Panza valley and the lower part of the basin of the 

 Estrella creek. 



