268 Sir Alexander Crichton on some Parts of the Taunus ; 



of accommodation for a number of visitors, show that they are not yet in 

 vogue*. 



The ascent from Soden to Konigstein is steep, and about two English miles 

 in length. The road is formed of the quartz and talc slate. The height is 

 about 1800 feet above the level of the river; the view extensive, rich, and 

 beautiful ; and the summit is diversified by small hills. At a short distance 

 from the village of Konigstein, which is on the top of the mountain, one of 

 these (the Falkenstein) exhibits large plates of the talc-schiefer , of which it is 

 composed, standing up in all directions ; some are perpendicular, and the rest 

 at various angles. Other hillocks in the neighbourhood consist of shattered 

 plates of the same schistus, in less disorder. 



The grauwacke, which occupies a great portion of the dutchy of Nassau, 

 passes from the coarse-grained and quartzy kind to that which is composed of 

 finer and more micaceous parts, and also to one which is more argillaceous. 

 The grauwacke slate, which intervenes between the strata of the coarser kind, 

 is very argillaceous, and also full of mica. Its prevailing colour is bluish green. 

 It is foliated, easily broken, and gives a strong smell of clay when breathed on. 



These varieties, which compose the bulk of the mountains on the river Lahn, 

 do not alternate regularly with each other. Several beds of hard grauwacke 

 are seen lying on each other without the intervention of the slate. In other 

 places the grauwacke slate intervenes, or a half-pulverulent argillaceous matter 

 lies between the harder beds. 



The strata of the grauwacke are in general several feet thick. The slate 

 is seldom more than one foot and a half in thickness, and frequently only a 

 few inches. It is sometimes as thin as paper. In some places it is employed 

 for roofing houses. 



These mountains are rich in petrifactions. In the quartzy beds are found 

 the remains of encrinites, and in the argillaceous and micaceous beds nume- 

 rous casts of shells. Many of these I collected on the top of a high mountain 

 called the Kemmenau, about a league from the baths of Ems, and others 

 from one which rises close to the baths themselves, at a place called the 

 Moshutte, about half way up the mountain f . 



* Tlic muriate of soda, as a mineral substance, is generally associated with the new red sand, 

 stone : but at Sodon, the mineral waters containing it rise at the base of the transition rocks near 

 to that place where the tertiary formations of the valley abut against the mountain. I know not 

 if they have ever attracted any attention from geologists. 



t There is a great resemblance between the casts of some of the shells at the place above spe. 

 cified, and those from Snowden. I have directed figures of the most distinct specimens to be pre- 

 pared; and, if they prove interesting, shall probably take a future opportunity of laying a de- 

 scription of them before the Society. 



