OUTSIDE OP THE UPPER BARRIER, 36*5 



mixture of alluvial matter mingled with detached masses 

 of primitive rocks. 



It is agreed by all our geologists, that the region 

 situated on both sides of Connecticut river, and extend- 

 ing from the northern line of Massachusetts to Long- 

 Island Sound, is secondary or alluvial. They may 

 inquire further whether there is any connexion between 

 such ancient bursting of dams, and the deposition of 

 earthy and rocky materials in the spaces below them* 

 Should the secondary formation thereabout be not refer- 

 able to this cause, there will be no difficulty in ascribing 

 to it, a part of the alluvial character of the tract. 



Here I may mention the impressions or forms of fossil 

 fish, found in the town of Glastonbury. They are con- 

 tained in a black bituminous shist interspersed with fine 

 particles of mica. Though in the specimens I possess, 

 the tail, scales, and fins, are perfectly distinguishable, the 

 specimens are too much broken to enable me to decide 

 upon the genus and species. My exertions to procure 

 an entire ichthyolite from that place have not as yet been 

 successful. 



2. The falls, breaches, and derelictions of the Hudson. 



About fifty miles north of Albany, near Kingsbury, is 

 a very picturesque and magnificent scene. The whole 

 waters of the Hudson fall down a considerable steep. 

 ThB country from about two or three miles above the 

 falls, called Glens' falls, to some distance below them, 

 abounds with calcarious rocks, and with a sort of black 

 trap. They are at that place the upper strata, and rest 

 upon the shistus or slate, which forms here, as at other 

 parts of New-York state, the solid mass of earthy mate- 



