Geology , ^c. of the Connecticut. 59 



fbrd, and in the east part of Woodbridge. So far as I have 

 examined these places, I have always found a valley of geest 

 between the rocks. But this is often very narrow; as for ex- 

 ample half a mile west of Branford meeting-house, where 

 granitic ledges lie on one side of the road and a greenstone 

 ridge on the other. Further examination of this and 

 fhe other points mentioned above, might discover associa- 

 tions similar to those occurring in the Hebrides. 



Origin of Greenstone. 



Does the greenstone of the Connecticut afford evidence 

 !u favour of the Wernerian or of the Huttonian theory of its 

 origin.'* Averse as I feel to taking a side in this controversy, 

 I cannot but say, that the man who maintains, in its length 

 and breadth, the original hypothesis of Werner in j-egard to 

 the aqueous deposition of trap, will find it for his interest, if 

 he wishes to keep clear of doubts, not to follow the example 

 of D'Aubuisson, by going forth to examine the greenstone 

 of this region, lest, like that geologist, he should be compel- 

 led, not only to abandon his theory, but to v/rite a book 

 against it. Indeed, when surveying particular portions of 

 this rock, I have sometimes thought Bakewell did not much 

 exaggerate when he said in regard to Werner's hypothesis, 

 that, "it is hardly possible for the human mind to invent a 

 system more repugnant to existing facts.'' 



On the other hand, the Huttonian would doubtless have 

 his heart gladdened, and his faith strengthened by a survey 

 of the greater part of this rock. As he looked at the dikes 

 in the old red sandstone, he would almost see the melted 

 rock forcing its way through the fissures; and when he came 

 to the amygdaloidal, especially to that variety which resem- 

 bles lava, he might even be tempted to apply his thermom- 

 eter to it, in the suspicion that it was not yet quite cool. And 

 without doubt he would see many a volcanic crater on the 

 top of these ranges, where, with our dull eyes, we see only 

 a pond or a quagmire. Even the occurrence of this green- 

 stone in beds in sandstone would present no obstacle, since 

 the discoveries by Dr. Macculloch in the isle of Skye of 

 similar beds, of whin stone; concerning which he says, 

 "there are no instances but where the alternating beds of 

 trap detach veins or dikes from the lower to the upper beds; 



