NOTES ON GEOLOGY AND BOTANY OF DIGBY NECK—BAILEY. 71 
in others by narrow troughs, while across both, at intervals, 
stretch transverse depressions, always relatively deep, and in 
some instances sinking far below tide level. In these latter 
cases, especially at Sandy Cove and in the Petite Passage, the 
whole structure of the peninsula is admirably exposed, and 
in the craggy bluffs which border them is determined scenery 
which in many respects may well be compared with much of 
that in the vicinity of the Giant’s Causeway, in Ireland. So 
high, indeed, and so steep is much of the shore, particularly upon 
the southern side, that a safe descent to the beach, if beach there 
be, is often hard to find and in places quite impossible. 
As would naturally be inferred from such diverse physical 
features, the depth and character of the soil over the peninsula 
exhibit similar diversity. Thus,on the lowlands of the isthmus, 
between Annapolis Basin and St. Mary’s Bay, where the under- 
lying rocks are sandstones, the soils derived therefrom are natur- 
ally also sandy, though, like the corresponding soils of Annapolis 
Basin, often quite productive. Nearing the hills to the north of 
this tract, on the other hand, the Jand rapidly becomes stony, 
through the distribution of drift, while the hill-slopes themselves 
are thickly covered with scattered blocks of all sizes. Again on 
the tops of the hills the soil-covering is usually very scanty and 
often wholly wanting, but between these, and especially on the 
transverse valleys, the soils are both deeper and richer, giving 
support to numerous prosperous farms. The proportion of poor 
to good land increases progressively to the westward, and in 
Long and Briar Islands bare ridges of rock are separated only 
by bogs and swamps. 
GEOLOGICAL FEATURES. 
The general geological structure of Digby Neck has long 
been known, and has been made the subject of description by 
several writers, the most prominent being Sir William Dawson. 
As in the region bordering the Annapolis Valley, of which 
that under consideration is the direct extension, there are in 
Digby Neck and its vicinity two groups of rocks, the one sedi- 
mentary, consisting chiefly of arenaceous beds, of a bright red 
