BROWN ON THE GEOLOGY OF CAPE BRETON. 207 



Analysis. 



Carbon - - - 92*591 



Hydrogen 2 '629 



Oxygen - 1 -608 



Nitrogen 0-921 



Ash - - - - - - - 2-251 



100-000 



The heat employed was sufficient to melt the Bohemian combustion-tubes in 

 several places, although protected by sheet copper. 



3. On the Geology of Cape Breton.* By Richard Brown, Esq. 

 Communicated by Charles Lyell, Esq. F.R.S., F.G.S., &c. 



I propose, in the following pages, to give a slight general sketch 

 of the geology of Cape Breton, from notes made at various times, 

 some so far as 15 years back, and collected more with a view to 

 professional pursuits, than for the purposes of geological research. 



The island of Cape Breton is separated from Nova Scotia by 

 the Gut of Canso, and is about 120 miles in length from north 

 to south, and 90 miles wide from Scatari on the Atlantic shore to 

 Port Hood on the Gulf of St. Lawrence. A range of highlands, 

 commencing at Cape North, continues to St. Ann's on the east 

 shore, and to Margarie on the west shore, both distant from Cape 

 North about 60 miles, and presents, with few interruptions, bold 

 and precipitate cliffs to the ocean. These highlands attain their 

 greatest elevation near the shore, constituting a table-land from 

 15 to 20 miles in breadth, and 600 to 1000 feet in height, in most 

 places incapable of cultivation. Part of this table-land is covered 

 with a stunted growth of spruce and fir trees, and the remainder 

 is principally rocky and barren moorland, which affords a scanty 

 supply of moss for a few herds of wild deer. 



From Margarie to Port Hood the country is elevated, but un- 

 dulating, being intersected by several small rivers running through 

 valleys of great fertility. From Port Hood another chain of hills 

 stretches towards Ship Harbour, the water shedding from the 

 eastern declivity into the rich alluvial valley 'of the river ' In- 

 habitants,' which runs parallel with the Gut of Canso from north 

 to south. These hills decline gently to the west, and from Port 

 Hood to Bear Island, at the southern end of the Gut, form a low 

 shore, which seems to suffer less than might be expected from the 



* The memoir, by the same author, accompanied by a map, and published 

 under this title in the previous pages of this volume (see ante, p. 23. ), was chiefly 

 intended to have reference to Mr. Lyell's observations concerning the age of the 

 gypsum in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton. — Ed. 



