The Hon. Mr. Strangways on the Geology of Russia. 9 



Ladoga^ in the same manner as the Neva connects the Lake Ladoga with the 

 Gulf of Finland. The south shore is an even linC;, in both cases unaccom- 

 panied by island.Sj and the water for several miles out remarkably shallow ; 

 so much so^ as in each in.stance to have made a canal necessary for the na- 

 vigation. 



There is probably a still greater difference of level between the Lakes 

 Onega and Ladoga^ than between the latter and the Gulf. 



In a deep bay at the north-east extremity of the Lake Onega, is a small 

 cluster of islands, one of which, called Volk Ostrof, or the Isle of Wolves, is 

 celebrated for the beautiful minerals it affords*. Loose on the soil are found 

 numerous blocks of a dark brown or black argillaceous ironstone, which, when 

 broken, are seen to contain irregular cavities, lined with crystals of quartz, 

 and oxyd of iron, of great variety and beauty. Sometimes the quartz be- 

 comes amethyst, and is at the same time penetrated by delicate tufts or pencils 

 of oxyd of iron in radiating capillary crystals ; sometimes the quartz itself is 

 coated with yellow or red oxyd of iron ; in the latter case it resembles in ap- 

 pearance the Hyacinth of Compostella. The yellow oxyd is often seen in 

 small cubes ; the black in fine acicular crystals. Some large blocks present 

 cavities, each of which is lined with a different variety ; others show all the 

 varieties crystallized in the same group. 



A glance at the map will suffice to throw together all I have said respect- 

 ing this extensive tract of country. One circumstance, however, I must not 

 omit. Throughout the whole of Finland, the evident traces of diluvian action 

 are on the most astonishing scale. Without dwelling on the stupendous size 

 and universal distribution of primitive boulders, it is impossible not to per- 

 ceive, that the top of every rockm sitUj every tor, every hill and knoll of gra- 

 nite, or primitive rock, from its first Appearance in Carelia, till it sinks beneath 

 the Gulf of Bothnia, presents a surface as much rounded, and as visibly water- 

 worn, as the boulders or colossal pebbles that lie round their bases. Where 

 the rock in situ does not rise high above the soil, and where the boulders are 

 at the same time thickly scattered and of vast size, it is scarcely possible to di- 

 stinguish one from the other. This is particularly the case between Wyborg 

 and Fredericshamn, where they totally prevent the culture of the earth, and 



* Some of these specimens are not unlike the nests of quartz crystals found in the neighbour, 

 hood of Bristol, often tinged red by iron. The acicular oxyd of iron is often found lining cavi- 

 ties in the ironstone of Mendip. 



The blocks found on Volk Ostrof are evidently foreign to the island : their parent rock may 

 perhaps be discovered hereafter in the almost trackless wilderness which extends north of the 

 Lake Onega. 



VOL. vr. c 



