156 Miscellanies. 



under the carboniferous limerock of European geologists. It con- 

 tains vast beds of hornstone, very coarse agate, he, descriptions of 

 which have heretofore appeared in the Journal of Science. We 

 observed the places where this rock passes under the metalliferous 

 limerock, and both under the second graywacke. 



208 M. — We distinctly see the calciferous sandrock emerging 

 again and reclining upon the primitive spur, called Root's Nose, which 

 extends down from McComb's Mountain west of Lake Champlain. 

 It next appears in a high bluff inclined against the west side of the 

 spur. In this bluff is a deep narrow cavern. It was carefully sur- 

 veyed with compass, chain, and other instruments, under the super- 

 intendence of myself, by H. H. Eaton, G. White, and Dr. J. Eights, 

 and found to be more than four hundred feet in extent, with a depth 

 of between two and three hundred feet. But after the most diligent 

 search, no antediluvial relics could be found in it ; though stalagmites 

 and diluvial mud were found in abundance. In the same calciferous 

 sand rock, opposite to Spraker's Basin, about three miles farther 

 west, we find abundance of semi-opal, and numerous quartz crystals, 

 both containing anthracite. 



217 M. — At Fort Plain we examine the beautiful metalliferous 

 limestone in horizontal layers. It is every where perforated with 

 vertical encrinites, (rather stylastrites of Martin,) which, on being 

 polished, constitutes the most elegant variety of birdseye marble. 

 It is not generally compact enough to polish however. 



Our boat lay in the mouth of Otsquago Creek during the night, 

 where we observe immense quantities of light carburetted hydrogen 

 gas, perpetually rising from the bottom. It seems that trees, leaves, 

 &;c. are brought down the creek, and meeting the still water here, 

 become water soaked, fall, putrefy, and on the usual principle, pro- 

 duce this compound gas. 



Sunday 4. — Spend the Sabbath at Fort Plain. The Rev. Dr. 

 Brown performed the service of public worship before the whole 

 party, and such of the villagers as chose to attend. 



Monday 5, 233 M. — Go to Little Falls. Here the canal ascends 

 by several locks, across a spur of McComb's Mountain, through a 

 deep natural channel (several hundred feet,) in a rock of slaty gran- 

 ite, gneissoid hornblende rock. Against each side reposes the calcif- 

 erous sand rock, containing tabular barytes, anthracite, quartz crys- 

 tals, he. The students make an excursion on foot to Fairfield Med- 

 ical Institution seven miles north, for the purpose of collecting quartz 



