156 Scientific Geology. 



the metallic veins in those towns lie in a northerly direction from the 

 spot where the bowlders were found ; and there can be little doubt 

 that they originated thence. 



If we go to the large beds of serpentine in Middlefield and Blan- 

 ford, we shall find bowlders of this rock on no side of them but the 

 south. On that side, they are very numerous at first ; and continue 

 to decrease in number and size as we recede from the bed. I no- 

 ticed this fact most strikingly around the most northern bed of ser- 

 pentine in Blanford. In some instances, however, as in the serpen- 

 tine bed in Westfield, fluviatile action may have removed the bowl- 

 ders in a different direction. The Westfield river, in that instance, 

 runs easterly and crosses the serpentine ; and of course has carried 

 bowlders of it in that direction. 



As we ascend the broad and lofty mountain range, west of Con- 

 necticut river, we meet occasionally with rounded fragments of well 

 characterised granular quartz ; and their number and size increase 

 till we reach the western base of Hoosac Mountain. But in vain 

 shall we search for this rock in place till we have begun to descend 

 Hoosac Mountain. Along its western base are extensive ledges of 

 this rock, across the whole extent of Massachusetts, and extending 

 far into Vermont. And in going westward, the bowlders increase 

 in number and size till we reach the rock in place. These facts lead 

 to the conclusion, that the diluvial current in this part of the State, 

 came from a direction nearly northwest. This opinion is confirmed by 

 finding numerous bowlders in the valley of Berkshire, of gray wacke ; 

 an extensive formation of which, reaching nearly to Hudson .river, 

 commences a few miles beyond the western boundary of the State. 

 Some fragments of this rock were found by. Dr. Emmons in Chester, 

 on the eastern slope of Hoosac mountain ; establishing the same con- 

 clusion. The force of this current must have been very great, if it 

 took place since the surface of Berkshire county assumed its present 

 inequalities. For bowlders of several tons weight, are found lodged 

 at various elevations, on the steep western escarpment of Hoosac 

 mountain ; and as already remarked, these bowlders, in large num- 

 bers, have been actually carried over the top of the mountain, and 

 driven south easterly from 10 to 20 miles. I even found a fragment 

 of quartz breccia, a foot in diameter, in East Hampton, in the A^lley 

 of the Connecticut. It was of so peculiar a character, that its parent 

 rock, on the west side of the Hoosac, could not be mistaken. To 

 suppose that these quartz bowlders were forced- by a current of water 



