turbed portion of the deposit, the strata are again seen to 

 resume their usually horizontal position. 



In several situations, and always in connection with 

 this superincumbent mass, are to be observed decided 

 evidences that some partial or local currents of water have 

 drifted the fragments of these broken-up strata, and quiet- 

 ly deposited them over the surface of the yellow ferrugi- 

 nous or overlying sands. These fragments have their 

 angles but slightly abraded, and consequently could not 

 have been brought to their present position from any great 

 distance ; and most commonly they can easily be traced 

 to the parent cliff, almost in the immediate vicinity of 

 their occurrence. 



When this disruptured mass of clay comes in direct 

 contact with the subordinate strata upon which it rests, 

 it generally presents the appearance of being placed in an 

 unconformable position by the disturbing agencies, and 

 would, from its absence of color and deranged condition, 

 most readily deceive the eye of an inexperienced observer, 

 and induce him to believe that it had been the result of 

 a distinct and more recent deposition ; but a closer in- 

 spection, however, will very soon convince him that they 

 are identically of the same age. 



The succeeding portion of this formation occupies a cen- 

 tral position, amounting to about a third part of its entire 

 thickness. It is composed of innumerable strata of a re- 

 markably fine-grained, unctuous, marly clay, separated 

 throughout its whole extent by numerous thin seams of a 

 silvery white pulverulent sand. These strata are, with 

 rare exceptions, arranged in a horizontal position, and the 

 numerous layers by which they are constructed are each 

 deeply tinged with red, yellow, and blue, including all 

 the various modifications of tint, presenting to a spectator 

 a richly striped and exceedingly beautiful appearance 

 when freshly exposed to the open light of day. These 

 colors are usually repeated in the strata throughout Us 



