MODIFIED DRIFT ALONG CONNECTICUT RIVER. 57 



highest of these at present drifted by the wind are about loo feet above 

 the east edge of the plain, but large amounts of sand now grassed over 

 extend 50 feet higher. 



Ashuelot river at Hinsdale, and for a mile east, is bordered by terraces 

 but little higher than the plain. Slight remains of an older delta, about 

 400 feet above the sea, appear at its opening into the main valley, espe- 

 cially above the railroad east of its mouth. This stream, like Whetstone 

 brook at Brattleboro', has formed numerous and interesting terraces in 

 the alluvium of the Connecticut during the excavation of its channel to 

 join that river. 



In Vernon, a high delta of small extent occurs on the north side of 

 Broad brook. An isolated plateau, 70 feet above the low terrace sur- 

 rounding it, and plainly a remnant of the principal terraces north and 

 south of this brook, is found on its south side close to the river. It has 

 been cut through for the railroad. Another plateau, similar to this, but 

 only 15 feet in height, is cut through by the Ashuelot Railroad, just north 

 of South Vernon. For two miles north from Vernon village the modified 

 drift averages one mile wide, and is very finely terraced ; a half mile west 

 from this village it consists of an extensive delta, 410 feet above the sea. 

 One of the most picturesque portions of this river, as seen in our boat 

 journey, was at this place in the circuit around Cooper's point, where 

 the river is divided by islands, and frequent gneissic ledges are exposed 

 along its shore. These islands, and others along the river, are in nearly 

 all cases alluvial and within the reach of high water. For a half mile 

 east from Vernon the current of the river, by reason of this bend, has 

 been so directed against its south shore that scarcely any alluvium re- 

 mains, instead of which we have an irregular slope of till and ledge. 



Opposite Northfield village we find a prominent delta-plain of gravel, 

 390 to 375 feet above the sea; and the first brook north of this village has 

 brought down kame-like gravel and irregular delta deposits of similar 

 height. The normal highest plain of the Connecticut seems to be repre- 

 sented by the west portion of the Hinsdale plain; by the irregularly 

 sloping terrace, which extends two miles north from Vernon, with its 

 upper edge 340 feet above the sea ; by an extensive terrace one mile east 

 of Vernon, at 330; probably by terraces north and south of South Ver- 

 non, at 295 and 290 ; by irregular remains in the south part of Hinsdale, 



VOL. III. 8 



