SOURCE OF ST. PETER's RIVER. 205 



are found upon it ; whereas these were uniformly observ- 

 ed to the exclusion of the scales of hornstone upon the sur- 

 face of the calcareous stratum that overlays the sandstone. 

 If contrary to the opinion which we have been led to adopt, 

 the limestone be supposed to constitute but one formation, 

 whether above or below the sandstone ; then will we ask, 

 whence come these flattened fragments, observed upon the 

 sandstone ? If from the remains of a more solid stratum in 

 the limestone itself, why, let us again ask, are not these 

 likewise observed upon the inferior limestone itself? 

 Why is not the hornstone, which appears to characterize 

 the lower limestone, also observed upon the sandstone ? We 

 might further ask, if the limestone above and below the 

 sandstone bed be the same, ought we not to find signs of 

 calcareous beds subordinate to the sandstone, and would we 

 not have a right to expect an interposition of limestone in 

 the immense bed of sandstone which, as we have previously 

 stated, is often one hundred feet in thickness ? Yet this we 

 never observed to be the case. 



If an alternation of sandstone and limestone strata be- 

 longing to the same formation were indicated by the cha- 

 racters previously alluded to, would we not be entitled to 

 expect that the fragments and detritus of both should be 

 found together ? Yet in the valleys of the sandstone coun- 

 try, and particularly in the beautiful and romantic one 

 which rested upon the limestone, and was enclosed by 

 sandstone hills, we observed no fragments of the former 

 rock, and but a few large blocks of sandstone which had 

 evidently fallen of late from the sides of the valley. 

 While travelling on the hills we observed that they were 

 covered, in certain parts, with a thin stratum of fine sand, 

 resulting from a slight decomposition of the rock, as is ob- 

 servable in all sandstones of a loose texture. 



