16 SURFACE GEOLOGY. 



of a basin. Yet the upper terrace of this section extends almost uninterruptedly 

 to Middle Haddam, or Chatham. It is composed of sand, with coarse gravel, or 

 even bowlders a foot or two in diameter. It is more irregular at the top than the 

 lower terraces, and is, in fact, a moraine terrace. 



8. In Wethersfield, a little north of the village, from Connecticut river west- 

 ward, the highest terrace is probably the same as Main Street, in that village. It 

 is sandy ; the lower one loam. 



9. This section begins near the mouth of Farmington river, on the bank of the 

 Connecticut, and runs southwesterly to the level of the village, which stands on 

 the highest terrace observable in that vicinity. This is sandy, the lower one loam. 



2. Sections in the Basin from Mount Eolyohe to Mettawampe. (Toby.) 



To the surface geology in this basin I have devoted more time and attention 

 than in any other, because I reside in it, and have lived in it most of my days. 



10. The valley of the Connecticut, in the region of Northampton and Amherst, 

 is not less than fifteen miles wide, from the old beaches on one side to those on the 

 other.- From the north part of Northampton, through Hatfield, Hadley, and 

 Amherst, to the middle of Pelham, I have carried a level more than eleven miles, 

 and the section, No. 10, presents the results. It shows, first, terraces on several 

 existing small streams, besides the Connecticut ; secondly, terraces and beaches on 

 what I regard as two ancient beds of the Connecticut, one along the west side of 

 Amherst, and the other along its eastern side. The ridge between is mainly com- 

 posed of rearranged and water-worn materials ; but the surface is too irregular for 

 terraces, and I fancy that they might have formed beaches, though terraces occur 

 on their sides ; thirdly, as we approach Pelham, we come upon the upper part of a 

 small stream, called Fort river, which descends from the hills of Pelham, almost 

 in the direction of the section. On both sides of this stream I found numerous 

 terraces, some of them delta terraces, and others, lateral terraces ; although not all 

 of them are very perfect, yet lying at a convenient distance from my residence, I 

 have given them a good deal of attention, and regard them as very instructive. I 

 have thought that they deserved a separate map, which I have given (Plate VI, Fig. 

 2,) as they could not be represented on the general map. The general section I have 

 carried along the south side of the stream, as high as the terraces exist, and then 

 it is continued across the south branch of the stream (a mere brook), so as to cross 

 what I regard as three beaches ; one of them more than 1,000 feet above Connecti- 

 cut river. The highest of the terraces, No. 9, which is 383 feet above Connecti- 

 cut river, occupies a gorge having Mount Hygeia 1 on the north, and a correspond- 

 ing elevation, less bold, on the south. Above this spot is a depression, or basin, 

 above which, on the north side of the stream, occur several distinct terraces, lying 

 against Mount Hygeia ; while at a still higher level, on the north, are large banks 



1 I apply this name to a bluff 106 feet above Connecticut river, rising directly above a fine mineral 

 spring, of the chalybeate character, in a most romantic dell. 



