78 



•no doubt formerly formed one mass with its neighbor. Standing 

 by this great boulder I counted eight other large granite and 

 gneissic boulders on the beach within easy sight. Two boulders, 

 showing a close resemblance to the granite of Cape Willoughby, 

 measured respectively four feet, and four feet nine inches, in 

 their longer axes. This bay is backed by sloping clay banks 

 and cultivated fields. The clay near the coast has been some- 

 what rearranged by slips and rainwash, but it is very stony, and 

 fair-sized erratics can be seen in the higher cultivated ground. 



A few erratics can also be seen by the side of the road in the 

 township of Hog Bay, near the top of tlie cliff's, but the most 

 striking assemblage of these travelled stones is found within the 

 limits of the small inlet of the sea known as Christmas Cove, or the 

 *' boat harbour." Here the glacial clay slopes down to the beach, 

 and within tide marks as well as standing out of the water, below 

 low water line, a very great number of glacial erratics can be 

 seen, ranging from small pebbles up to many tons in weight. 

 Only a few of them can be referred to. 



(No. 1.) Near the head of the cove three very large granite 

 blocks lying close together, near high water mark, immediately 

 attract the notice of the visitor. The three pieces have evidently 

 formed one mass, which has split along joint planes and fallen 

 asunder. The measurements of the respective fragments are as 

 under : — 



Feet long. Feet broad. Feet high. 

 {a) A long shaft-like mass, prostrate 9 4 2 



(6) Of pyramidal shape ... ... 4|- 3 3 J 



(c) Roughly pyramidal ... ... 5f 3 J 3 J 



(No. 2.) Near this group, but at a lower level, is a large 

 dark-colored siliceous quartzite, quite distinct from the local 

 rocks, which measures 5 feet 9 inches long, 5 feet broad, and 



2 feet 9 inches in height. 



(No. 3. J On the east side of the cove another boulder of 

 granite attracts the eye by its huge size and very coarsely por- 

 phyritic structure. Numerous crystals of orthoclase fully two 

 inches in length occur throughout the mass. It has also suffered 

 fracture along a joint plane. Measurements, 8 feet by 5 feet 

 6 inches, by 4 feet 6 inches. 



(No. 4-) On the west side of the cove a large boulder of 

 granite, finer in texture than the one last described, is left dry 

 on the retreat of the tide. Like most of the granites in the cove, 

 it is of a pinkish color, and measures 6 feet 3 inches by 4 feet 



3 inches by 2 feet 6 inches. There are several other examples 

 within the cove which nearly, if not quite, equal the proportions 

 of those described, whilst the stony beach as a whole has gathered 

 most of its material from the glacial clay which forms its banks. 



