oe 
518 ON THE GEOLOGY OF THE ISLAND OF AQUIDNECK. 
the further backward steps toward the simple condition of Avepia 
—that is, toward the extinction of the vernal series—it would 
be hard to conjecture, without treading on insecure ground; — 
rather let us leave that to the future development of paia — 
— Menton, France, April, 1872. 
ON THE GEOLOGY OF THE ISLAND OF AQUIDNE 
AND THE NEIGHBORING PARTS OF THE 
SHORES OF NARRAGANSET BAY.* 
BY PROF. N. S. SHALER. 
GENERAL Torpocrapny.— The contour of the shore at this po 
of our coast at once indicates some peculiar features in the hist 
of the rock masses in which it lies. A great indentation of the 
coast line having a width of twelve and a depth of over t " 
miles, cut here and there with narrow islands and running up} 
the land in long river-like arms for many miles beyond the 
of its main area, Narraganset Bay, leads us to seek for 
forces operating in its formation which were not at work, at gr 
with the same energy, in the region of shore more to 
ward and westward. A glance at the general topograph, 
show us more clearly what is to be regarded. as peculiar 
requiring an explanation from the ancient history of this i 
Nearly the whole of the excavation of N Narraganset Bay 
a region commonly known as Carboniferous. f l 
vations of the Chesapeake and Delaware lie altogi 
a region of soft, easily disintegrated material and are 
not comparable with what we have here. The valleys © 
Connecticut, the Hudson and the Thames, nearer to the 
are studying, are in the same sort of rocks, Or besa 
equivalent hardness, and are therefore more likely to 
Measure for the forces acting here. But we find that 
* This and the papers to be hereafter published in the ame AE Coast 
a Report to Prof. Benj. deod SARE of toe Ua 
are made publ is 
tit will hereafter be shown ik a very large part of this eget 
rele ates isin all enpsaid of a very much e arlier age. 
show a member of the Cambrian series. 
