134 TRACES OF ANCIENT GLACIERS 



they did originate in glaciers. The marks are not as striking here as in Wales, or 

 Switzerland; but they are too numerous and obvious to be set aside as of no 

 weight. I shall now proceed to give the details. 



I have found all these markings upon the eastern slope of that broad range of 

 mountains extending along the whole western side of New England, the one 

 in Vermont, as the Green Mountains, and in Massachusetts, as Hoosac Moun- 

 tain. This range in Vermont rises more than 4000 feet above the ocean : but in 

 Massachusetts not over 2500 feet. My examinations have been mostly confined 

 to Massachusetts, though it is obvious that Vermont promises to be a better field, 

 because its mountains are higher. The west slope of this range of mountains is 

 much the steepest, and the streams few and short. I have explored but a few of 

 them, and have discovered no certain traces of glaciers, but I expect they will be 

 found, especially in Vermont. 



The annexed map, Plate VIII, extending as far as I have made any explora- 

 tions, will give at a glance the principal facts which I refer to the action of former 

 glaciers, and will make great minuteness of detail unnecessary. 



My first discovery on this subject was quite accidental. I was exploring the 

 gorge through which Little river debouches from the mountains, near the line 

 between Westfield and Russell, into the valley of Connecticut river. As I passed 

 along the north branch on the steep southerly face of Middle Tekoa., most distinct 

 striae and embossed rocks, arrested my attention, on a belt at least 140 feet wide 

 vertically. As I knew the drift striaa in this region to run between north and 

 south and S. 30° E., I was struck with this remarkable exception, and finding that 

 the direction of the strife corresponded with the course of the gorge through which 

 Little river had cut its way, I was led to inquire whether the whole was not the 

 effect of a glacier once descending through the valley of that river. 



In 1853, in a Report to the Government of Massachusetts, I gave an account of 

 this case, so far as it had then been explored, and of some other cases in the 

 vicinity. I have continued, since that time, to follow up these inquiries and to 

 extend them into other valleys in the same mountain range. The result is a still 

 stronger conviction that the traces of ancient glaciers can be identified, though 

 obscured by the subsequent operation of the drift and alluvial agencies. I say 

 subsequent operation, and yet I confess that some of the striae which I refer to 

 glaciers, seem quite as recent as any found by the drift agency that I have ever 

 seen ; and really I do not feel quite satisfied which of these agencies was the 

 earliest. Perhaps there were two periods of glaciers, one before, and the other 

 subsequent to the drift. 



The road from Westfield to Russell, just after crossing the line between the 

 towns, rises rapidly along the south side of Little river, over ledges of mica slate, 

 which have a dip almost 90°, and a strike not far from north to south. Ti-11 we 

 reach the height of about 300 feet, these rocks exhibit that irregular yet smoothed 

 surface characteristic of river action, in distinction from that of the drift agency, 

 the ocean, or glaciers. And when we look down into the deep gorge of the river 

 between Middle and South Tekoa, we infer at once that subsequent to the drift or 

 glacier period, Little river has worn out its bed to that depth. But when we rise 



