107 



strata and other regions, to make important inferences concerning 

 the geological epoch of their existence. 



' In the limestones of this region fossil impressions are equally 

 abundant. At Callahan's and near Crowe's, the mass of the rock 

 appears chiefly to consist of solid casts of shells, which, with a little 

 care, may frequently be detached entire, exhibiting unimpaired, all 

 the peculiar features of the shells themselves. Perfect specimens of 

 species of terebratula and productus may be procured at these 

 and numerous other localities ; and with a little research, a rich col- 

 lection of fossils may be gathered in almost any part of this region, 

 comprising a variety of species unknown in the geology of Europe. 

 Seeing, from the character of these impressions, that the living 

 beings whose traces are thus engraved upon the rocks, were once 

 the inhabitants of an ocean, we reflect with wonder upon the curious 

 geological changes which have occurred since the period in which 

 the exuviae of these shell fish and zoophytes were gradually accumu- 

 lated in the sand and mud at the bottom of the sea, and we look with 

 new interest and astonishment upon the solid texture and towering 

 height of the rocky strata in which these unequivocal traces of 

 oceanic life arc thus durably impressed. 



One of the most valuable of the rocks occurring in this region, 

 is the brownish slate, of which the firm and even surface of our 

 mountain roads is now frequently formed. The existence of this 

 admirable material immediately adjacent to the roads in many 

 parts of this region has already exerted a most happy effect in 

 their construction and improvement, and has rendered them for 

 beauty and convenience, deservedly the boast of this portion of the 

 state. 



The numerous mineral springs for which this region is so cele- 

 brated, and which, perhaps, constitute its most valuable possession, 

 could not be properly described in the narrow compass of the pre- 

 sent report ; and as injustice might be done by such meagre notices 

 as it would be possible to introduce, a special description of their 

 character and contents, and of the geological features of the sur- 

 rounding country, will be reserved for another publication, now in 

 progress, in which such details will be given in all the amplitude 

 they deserve, and from which, should the minute geology of this and 

 other parts of the state be called for by the legislature, all the irn- 



