24 SURFACE GEOLOGY. 



of the stream. Possibly more careful examination might have detected others, and 

 probably also the original surface has been here somewhat altered by the grading 

 of the streets. 



29. This section commences with the highest distinct terrace in Westminster, a 

 little south of the village (which stands upon the second terrace, reckoning up- 

 wards), and crosses Connecticut river into Walpole. But unfortunately I was 

 unable to measure the terraces on the east side of the river, and have marked them 

 only as they appeared from the west side. They are very distinct on both sides, 

 and perhaps they correspond in height, though I usually found in such cases, that 

 actual measurement showed considerable difference in elevation where the eye could 

 discern none. 



30. At the upper end of the basin under consideration, the terraces are numerous 

 and distinct, just below, as well as above Bellows Falls in the next basin. No. 30 

 crosses Connecticut river at the mouth of Saxon's river on the west side, and of 

 Cold river on the east side. Of course the terraces are compounded of the effects 

 of the three rivers. It will be seen that there is no correspondence in their height 

 on opposite sides of Connecticut river, except that the upper terrace very probably 

 once rilled the valley; for the difference in height between the opposite terraces 

 (17 feet) is not greater than we might expect on the supposition that the materials 

 were drifted into a former lake, or estuary, by the adjacent streams. These mate- 

 rials are, for the most part, coarse sand, sometimes mixed with gravel. On the 

 east side ledges of rocks appear on the slope of the third terrace. 



As an illustration of this paper, I have given a sketch (taken by Mrs. Hitchcock) 

 of the general aspect of the terraces of the above section, as they appear about a 

 mile south of where it crosses Connecticut river, on the road to Walpole. (See Plate 

 IX, Fig. 1.) The view from this spot of the gorge with its terraces, and of some of 

 the principal buildings in the romantic village of Bellows Falls, is very fine, and 

 deserves the attention of the artist for its scenographic beauties. My object in 

 giving its outlines was to exhibit the terraces as a good example of the very arti- 

 ficial appearance of many spots along the rivers of New England. Certainly it 

 does seem, as we look at these terraces, as if they were the work of man. 



31.- Oh the preceding section, on the west side of Connecticut river, I have 

 represented two glacis terraces. On No. 31 I have shown them on a large scale, 

 and laid them down accurately, so as to give a good idea of this kind of terrace. 

 It will be seen that they constitute merely undulating portions of the lowest ter- 

 race, and perhaps ought not to be reckoned as distinct terraces. Yet they are 

 sometimes of considerable height, and certainly deserve notice, because they show 

 us one of the modes in which water accumulates terrace materials. How they are 

 formed I will consider in another place. But there are certain laws concerned in 

 their production. Thus, the depression between them always corresponds in its 

 longest direction with the course of the current that produced them. One side, 

 also, and I believe always that next the stream, is steeper than the other. 



In almost all extensive meadows this sort of terraces may be seen more or less 

 distinct. Excellent examples occur in Hatfield and Hadley, not merely in the 

 meadows, but they are seen in crossing the villages, from street to street, in an 



