and Geology of Lake Ontario. 269 



Of the continuation of the primitive band of the outlet into 

 the State of New York, what little is known may be summed 

 up in the following words of Mr. Eaton : " It consists of 

 mountain ridges of gneiss, with intervening valleys of transition 

 sandstone and limestone. The gneiss is more nearly in an ho- 

 rizontal position than is usual for rocks of gneiss in New Eng- 

 land. All these mountain ridges may be called by the general 

 name, ' Macomb's Mountains*.' " It is bordered on the south 

 by transition rocks in the valley of the Mohawk. 



The gneiss " seems to be what Cleaveland calls ' the most 

 recent variety,' and often contains but little felspar or mica. 

 Sometimes it passes into an almost pure quartzose sandstone, 

 and frequently passes gradually into siliceous limestone f." 



The geologist who confines himself-to the margin and islands 

 of Lake Ontario, will be much puzzled in the distribution of the 

 rocks above the primitive. Excepting its lower eighty miles, 

 chiefly occupied by submedial limestone, the north main is so 

 covered with diluvium, that for many miles in-land (as well as 

 on the beach) few fixed rocks show themselves. He will find 

 conglomerates, sandstones and limestones (apart), succeeding 

 each other on the same level, in ledges or cliffs, surrounded 

 by marshes, waters, or woods ; as far as the eye can discover, 

 they are all in horizontal layers : but it is to be remembered, 

 that the sections of stratification thus presented are very decep- 

 tive, and that in platforms of small extent (as they usually are 

 here) a great aberration from horizontality will escape the un- 

 assisted eye. Little aid is derived from the contents of these 

 limestones, organic or mineral ; they are nearly the same. 



However, on the north shore itself, the relations of the three 

 lowest of these rocks are well ascertained ; while on the south 

 shore, and more particularly in the adjacent parts of the State 

 of New York, a very satisfactory display is made of the whole. 

 These latter districts have been examined with zeal and ability, 

 at the expense of the Hon. Steph. Van Renssellaer, by Mr. 

 Amos Eaton :t, in his Geological Survey quoted above. The 

 enlightened patron of this investigation allowed Mr. Eaton 

 two industrious and well-informed assistants, Messrs. Webster 

 and Eights, and assigned no limits to his very considerable 

 expenses §. 



I have 



• Geological Survey of the District adjoining the Erie Canal in the State 

 of New York. Albany, 1824. [joge 43. f Ibid, page 52. 



X Professor of Chemistry and Mineralogy at a College in Vermont. 



§ This survey was i.erfornicd in the summers of 1822 and 1H23. Mr.Eaton 

 made the line of the Eric Caiiiil his priiitipal obiect, but occasionally Iclt it 

 on cither side, as far as twenty miles, in search of geological facts. It is 



;{()0 miles 



