146 LAKE TEEBACES. 



We can say but little respecting the Modified Drift of Missisco River above Highgate Falls, because 

 when we traveled along its upper part in 1857, we took no notes of the phenomena. We are quite sure, 

 however, that there is no remarkable development of terraces upon it. At Sheldon, we crossed the stream 

 in two places without seeing any terrace accumulations worthy of mention. At East Berkshire, and along 

 the river to Bichford, there are occasionally expansions in the valley lined with terraces, as at the villages 

 of East Berkshire, and of Richford. Above these villages in Canada, and in the towns of Troy and Lowell, 

 the bed of the valley is rocky, and though filled with some of the most beautiful examples of drift striae to 

 be found in the State, terraces are scarcely developed. 



RIVEE TEREACES IN OELEANS COUNTY. 



We have not explored Orleans County, because it was assigned to another assistant, the Bev. S. B. Hall, 

 of Brownington, who took very few notes in reference to terraces. One or two flying visits have enabled us 

 to state the character of the valleys upon a few of the streams. 



The Black Biver of Orleans County is thirty miles long, rising in Craftsbury and discharging its waters 

 into Lake Memphremagog. We crossed it at the village of South Coventry, and found that besides the 

 meadow and frequently several small terraces, a very large and high terrace extended on both sides of the 

 river at the village, and north and south as far as the eye could reach. We understand that similar terraces 

 extend over most of this river. It is a sluggish river, and its meandering outline on the map suggests an 

 alluvial country lined with terraces. This high terrace at South Coventry extends to Lake Memphremagog 

 and unites there with a lake terrace. The same one passes up Barton River, on both sides of the stream, 

 probably as far as Barton ; beyond which they gradually become less perfect to its source in Long (Buna- 

 way) Pond, in Glover. This part of the state is remarkably prolific in surface deposits. The terraces are 

 not noticeable for their number so much as for their great size and extent. We regret that when we passed 

 up an immense terrace on the east side of Barton Biver, on the road to Brownington from Coventry, that 

 we did not ascertain its height, for it seemed as if we had never seen a higher one. Terraces are found on 

 Willoughby Biver, which connects Lakes Willoughby and Memphremagog. A deep valley connects these 

 two bodies of water, and the highest terrace on Memphremagog Lake is 200 feet lower than the level 

 of Willoughby Lake. 



We did not notice any interesting terraces upon Clyde Biver in Charlestown. A large valley belonged 

 to it, but it was made up of low land underlaid by beds of peat and marl. Perhaps it is the bed of an old 

 pond. 



II. LAKE TEBBACES. 



We have now finished our detail of facts respecting river terraces. Although many of the streams have 

 not been visited or carefully explored, sufficient has been said to give much information upon this neglected 

 subject. A Geological Beport should mention all the facts respecting its appropriate phenomena which 

 can be obtained, whether they coincide with theories or not. And when these facts, seemingly unimportant, 

 from the different parts of the State, and from other States, shall have been brought together, some master 

 mind will reduce them to order, and assign proper theories for their explanation. At the present age, 

 scientific men are too apt to speculate in the absence of facts : hence the array of facts upon any subject or 

 department of Geology, cannot be too great. We want to know the facts just as they are, even though a 

 Beport cannot be filled with new discoveries. If we cannot sketch remarkable cases of dislocated rocks, or 

 disturbed strata, let us give views of common, plain phenomena; and though they may not impress by their 

 singularity, they will make their mark upon science by their inherent truth. 



We do not propose yet to account for the origin of Lake Terraces, in distinction from Biver Terraces. 

 We have already given suitable definitions, and will proceed to describe these terraces as we find them in 

 nature. And as we were just describing phenomena of Biver Terraces in Orleans County, in the vicinity 

 of Lake Memphremagog, we will commence with this lake in our description ; especially as this lake 

 affords the best examples of Lake Terraces of any lake or pond in Vermont. 



