76 GEOLOGY. 



the cabins or agricultural huts are infinitely better than 

 their chickens. 



My agricultural discourse with the farmer being com-8 

 to an end, we again proceeded in the search of the phantom 

 game ; but this time we ascended into the woods, and I 

 had a shot at what might have been a woodcock, at least 

 I thought so. I did not kill it, however, and could not 

 flush it again. By the side of a little stream in the forest, 

 Burnet, who I saw was well up to any sort of woodcraft, 

 padded a " skunk" and a racoon, and we found one of 

 those little land turtles, which I afterwards met with in 

 great quantities on some parts of the plains ; and we 

 heard the large woodpecker with the crimson head, but 

 could not get a shot at him. Tired, as well as disap 

 pointed by our want of sport, we then proceeded to regain 

 the railway station, and, on arriving there, ascertained 

 that there would not be another train for some time. On 

 hearing this the host of my hotel conducted me to the 

 residence of Major Bell, who, with the greatest kindness 

 and hospitality, set before us viands that added zest to 

 already existing appetite, and I saw that his house and 

 mill were cosily situated by a pretty little trout stream. 



While thus having luncheon with him, Major Bell 

 showed me several very curious specimens of geology 

 from the limestone rock and other strata of the Juniata 

 valley of Pennsylvania, and presented me with some ar 

 row-heads in stone. Among his collection was a flat 

 stone, containing the most perfect impression of a shoal 

 of. tadpoles, all, at the time of their destruction, swim 

 ming together in one direction, and so perfect was this im 

 pression that even the turn or wriggle of every tail was 

 as minutely depicted as if the owners of the tails had 

 that moment been before you. On my taking leave of 



