184 Account of the Geology, Mineralogy, Scenery, &c. 
ple sandstone, and indurated clay alternate, exhibiting a 
stratification nearly horizontal, the underlying inclination 
being from 8 to 10 deg. These layers are sometimes seen 
on the mountain’s site at considerable elevations above the 
river. The sandstone abovementioned is in general a coarse 
aggregate of quartz and feldspar, often friable but some- 
times very firmly combined, exhibiting winding vertical fis- 
sures. A fine compact white sandstone, resembling the 
Portland stone of England, is noticed in a few places as the 
basis layer of the Palisadoes. ‘The compact white sand- 
stone is in repute for cellar walls, not absorbing moisture 
as readily as the red freestone. ‘The greenstone of the 
Palisadoes is much used in forming docks; it is rarely 
found in a decomposing state. 
A metallic vem was worked at Fort Lee at the com- 
mencement of the revolutionary war under the impression 
that it contamed gold. Doct. Torrey has ascertained that 
the ore is pyritous and green carbonate of copper, the mat- 
rix quartz and a silicious and calcareous breccia dipping un- 
der greenstone. In the breccia numerous cavities of a reg- 
ular rhombic form are observed—they were doubtless occu- 
pied by rhombic chrystals of calcareous spar as that de- 
scription of carbonate of lime is seen at this place imbed- 
ded and detached. Micaceous oxide of iron is found in 
most specimens containing pyrites. 
The trees commonly met with on the above described 
range, are different species of oak, walnut, chestnut, maple, 
butternut, birch, gum, cedar, &c. The neishbourhood of 
Fort Lee and many parts of the mountain is heavily tim- 
bered.—Of berries the blackberry, whortleberry, raspberry 
and strawberry are abundant. 
The wild animals occupying these heights with almost 
exclusive dominion, are the wild-cat, raccoon, fox, opos- 
sum, rabbit and squirrel. The poultry yards at the wes- 
tern base of the mountain are often annoyed by the fox 
and opossum. Of venomous serpents the copper-head is 
the most common, but the rattlesnake is sometimes seen on 
the Palisado range. Eagles and hawks are numerous— 
they build their nests securely on the mountain cliffs. 
The elevation of the several points of the Palisado range 
was ascertained by Capt. Partridge to be as follows.— 
Fort Lee, 311 feet above the bed of the river ;—the bluff 
