196 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



small ravines, descending transversely, and forming slight 

 grooves or depressions, at intervals, in the otherwise im- 

 iRterruy)t:ed horizontal line. 



On either side the same character is seen to prevail^ 

 to whatever point the observer directs his view. The 

 same black delicate fringe may he traced, pursuing its 

 horizontal course, as far as it can be followed by the eye, 

 with a regularity that at first sight would seem to be the 

 result of art. 



On exploring further into this curious phenomenon, 

 some interesting facts are presented for the consideration 

 of the geologist, who will now^ perceive that it is even 

 more extensive and upon a more gigantic scale than he 

 had anticipated. He v^ill discover that this slight line^ 

 which, but for the contrast produced by the snow, would 

 never perhaps have been noticed, is a broad platform or 

 ledge, varying in width from a quarter of a mile to more 

 than half a mile, and is occupied by a dense mass of pines 

 and hemlocks. He will perceive that this platform, 

 though commonly possessing a small inclination towards 

 the valley, is at times nearly levelj and occasionally is 

 even inclined inwards to the mountain, the surface be- 

 ing probably thus modified by the action of comparatively 

 recent drainage. Extending his researches, he will learn, 

 that the entire waters which arise within the area en- 

 closed by these lines, comprising a length of thirty-five 

 miles, and an area of more than one hundred square 

 miles, have their outlet, not at the extremities of the 

 trough, but near the centre, through one of its sides, by 

 means of a fracture or ravine of comparatively late date, 

 cutting a channel, eight hundred feet deep, transversely 

 across highly inclined quartzose rocks : that were this 

 gorge again closed, the waters would form a lake, rising 

 to the height of the longitudinal benches we have de- 

 scribed ; and that they could reach no point of exit before 

 they had attained an elevation approaching to their ori- 



