14 T. Mellard Reade—The Eskdale Drifi— 
those observed in 1872, though the principal characteristics remain 
the same. 
Marine Drift in the Valley Bottoms. 
In the flat bottom land between and connecting the valleys of 
Miterdale and Eskdale, between Irton Road and Hskdale Green 
stations on the narrow gauge railway, is a deposit of sand, gravel, 
and boulders (No. 9). 
The boulders and gravel lie upon fine laminated sand, and are 
of well rounded Hskdale granite, both pink and grey, together with 
a good many Volcanics. Intermixed with them was a large per- 
centage of extremely well rounded pebbles of St. Bees sandstone up 
to four inches diameter. The level is about 145 feet above O. D., 
and they must have travelled up either Miterdale or Wskdale, 
probably Eskdale. As this drift lies on the granite and the Permian 
sandstone is at the nearest point in Miterdale between two and three 
miles to the westwards, and in Eskdale four miles, it must have 
travelled at least the minimum distance stated up one of the valleys, 
but probably much more. 
At the private bridge over the Esk, near Muncaster Head (No 10), 
there is a section of this sand-drift, here all sand, full of extremely 
rounded and very small pebbles of St. Bees sandstone. T’he sand 
possesses all the characteristics of Marine sand, consisting principally 
of very rounded quartz grains, intermixed with angular unworn 
grains, evidently the débris of the granite. I believe that the worn 
grains are also of the same derivation, as they are much larger than 
those of the Permian sandstone. It is the result of wave and 
current action. There is evidently a bank of this sand lying against 
the foot of Muncaster Fell, which has been scarped by the river 
Esk. The general form can be well seen from Eskdale Green. 
Rabbit burrows show that this sand, with Permian sandstone pebbles, 
extends to at least 140 feet above O. D. Similar sand may be seen 
on the opposite side of the valley on the road to Muncaster (No. 11). 
Perched Blocks and Moraines. 
Scattered over the mountains, angular perched blocks of granite 
may be seen, evidently the last records of the Glacial period in this 
district. In ascending the footpath from Miterdale to Wasdale at 
a level of 700 feet above O. D., I noticed a perched block of granite 
balanced in a remarkable manner on its thinnest edge on granite 
im situ. It measured 18 feet high by 10 feet and 15 feet, on the 
sides. It was evidently kept in position by slightly leaning on the 
lower part against the rubbish of the mountain side. 
Above Boot, by the bridge over the Esk, on the way to Hard- 
knott, moraines of gravel and boulders may be seen. They are 
well developed for a considerable distance up the valley above the 
bridge, and have been scarped in several places by the river, which 
has evidently effected considerable denudation since the glaciers 
died out. Upon these moraines are to be seen, here and there, large 
blocks from the Volcanic series. One of two, by the bridge, measured 
8 feet by 6 feet by 5 feet, and lay at a level of about 275 feet above 
