150 MOKAINE TEREAOES. 



River, upon the banks of which, upon the east side in particular, we noticed two or three quite distinct 

 terraces. This is in a region of very fine scenery, to which these terraces add by their interest and 

 beauty. 



We are hardly prepared to point out any distinct terraces upon Lake Champlain. As the lake partakes so 

 much of the character of an inland sea, we should hardly expect to find distinct terraces, but rather beaches. 

 Yet some of the largest lakes in the country have terraces upon their borders, as Lake Superior, 

 where there are sometimes fifteen, according to Prof. Agassiz. We may perhaps regard the great delta 

 terraces of the Winooski, Lamoille and Missisco Rivers as terraces of Lake Champlain, for they were 

 evidently formed under the waters of that lake. We refer more particularly to the high plains upon these 

 rivers, already described as existing in Essex, Colchester, Milton, Georgia and Highgate. They were formed 

 by these rivers and by the lake at the same time. Neither agency was sufficient without the other, and 

 they may properly be classed either as lake or river delta terraces. To the same category belongs the great 

 terrace in S.E. Hinesburg, 570 feet above the lake, upon a tributary of Lewis Creek. 



Apart from these accumulations brought down by rivers, there are terrace-like accumulations south of 

 Burlington, which in the field we mapped as terraces of Lake Champlain. But we did not venture to place 

 them upon our final map, because they are so connected with the Champlain clays that we could not sepa- 

 rate the two ; and besides, the lower silurian rocks near the lake form hills, so frequently like terraces, that 

 it is possible that the plain and its corresponding slope which we had marked as terraces, are in reality 

 bluffs of Trenton limestone, etc., covered with clay. We would, however, refer to a few of these cases. In 

 Charlotte, east of McNeil s landing there is quite a wide plain, and there is a higher level tract above it in 

 the village of Charlotte. In fact, from North Charlotte to Ferrisburg there are four different levels, which 

 curve with the hills of red sandrock. There are only three at Vergennes, the city being upon the third of 

 them. To the south, the ridge running from Panton north of the Elgin Spring, through Addison, Brid- 

 port and Shoreham, might almost be called the fourth terrace. West of this ridge is a depression, which 

 near the lake rises into two distinct levels in West Panton and West Addison. East of Bridport village 

 there are six different levels. In the southern part of Shoreham, and in the towns between Shoreham and 

 Whitehall, the surface is so studded with small rocky hills, that no regularity of surface can be traced. 

 We cannot regard these plains as terraces, they are perhaps beaches, but we mention them here because 

 of their resemblance to lake terraces. The material of which these elevations are composed, above the 

 rocks, is mostly clay. It was formed under water, and the formation will be described under Champlain 

 Clays. Of maratime terraces we have already spoken, describing them as formed by the waves of the sea 

 shore, but distinct from sea beaches. We have as yet found nothing in Vermont to be referred to this class 



IV. MORAINE TERRACES. 



A class of terraces formed when water covered a great part of Vermont, were described as moraine ter- 

 races. They were said to be a peculiar form, not unfrequently assumed by the more elevated terraces, 

 exhibiting great irregularity of surface ; elevations of gravel and sand, with correspondent depressions of 

 most singular and scarcely describable forms. The name is not so characteristic as it should be ; but no 

 better name has been suggested. It was given under the impression that stranded ice as well as water was 

 concerned in their production. 



These phenomena have gone under the name of "dry bowls" in the northern part of the State. Others 

 call them " tracts of drift beds, covered with sink holes," " a field of mounds or moraines inverted." Prof. 

 Adams called them moraines an improper term, because moraines are formed only by glaciers, and several 

 real moraines have been already described in this report, from different parts of the State. 



We will simply give a catalogue of all those cases of moraine terraces which we have noticed in the State, 

 and subsequently state gur theory respecting their origin : 



In Pownal they are abundant in the east part of the town, in the valley of the principal branch of the 

 Waloomsac river. 



Between Shaftsbury and Arlington they are met with frequently. At Arlington, west of the village, 

 are conical and tortuous moraine terraces above the terraces on the Battenkill river. 



