NOTES AND QUERIES. 



39 



stood at a higher level than at present, or by all these agencies at clilferent epochs 

 collectively ? It appears pretty evident that this locality was submerged duiing 

 the Glacial Epoch, as I find in several places a great thickness of blue clay, inter- 

 mixed with smooth, water-worn, and striated boulders. The river, which runs in 

 a south-easterly direction, would be unfavourable for the deposition of sediment 

 during the drift-period ; and such I find to be the case ; in fact, the currents 

 coming from the north would tend to wear the channel deeper ; whereas, in the 

 case of the rivulets that run into the river at right angles to its course, there is a 

 large deposit of clay and boulders on their north or sheltered sides. I also send you 

 some specimens broken from a block of Scotch Granite, as I suppose it to be, whicli 

 I picked up in this district. The boulder weighs several pounds, and, if I am 

 correct, must have been floated hither on an ice-raft from Scotland, when our fine 

 romantic dale was covered mth water ! We have no Granite hke this in the north 

 of England that I know of ; Shap Fell Granite being of a very diff"erent kind. 

 Such are my opinions ; and such are my queries ; I now ask your assistance and 

 advice. I think your answers to the above would much interest many readei-s of 

 the Geologist beside myself — Dear Sir, yours truly, J. Elliott. — Weardale, 

 Durham." — Our correspondent's inquuies are legitnnate and well directed ; and 

 ■we hope that some day everybody will be sufliciently enlightened to trouble them- 

 selves with similai" questions as to the physical features of the localities where 

 they live, and in time sufliciently conversant with the principles of Geology from 

 their very school-days, to recognize the cliief reasons for the contours and structure 

 of the hills and valleys around them. The valleys have usually originated in 

 cracks or faults in the strata, consequent on some more or less extensive general 

 crust-movement of the area when beneath the sea. As the gTound rose, the 

 action of the waves of the advancmg shore-line mdened the fissure, sometimes 

 sweeping away the debris, and sometimes leaving it as gTavel and sand; and 

 made it a creek, estuary, or bay — with perhaps an extensive system of minor 

 fissures forming drainage-valleys leading into it. Subsequently, when the land 

 was at a still higher level, the streams and rivers followed this hollow, excavating 

 channels in the higher parts of the vaUeys, but filling up the loAver parts Avith new 

 gravel, sand, and silt. The rain and other atmospheric agents have also ceaselessly 

 worked to modify the sides of the valleys. The application of this theory of the 

 formation and modification of valleys to individual instances must be left to local 

 experience. Doubtless our correspondent is correct as to the ice-carriage of the 

 granitic boulder (a Granite with black mica). 



The Geologists' Association. — There has been felt, for some time, much 

 need of a common means of intercommunication among those who, while not 

 devoting their lives to the pursuit, yet take an active interest in the facts and 

 teachings of Geology. The " Geological Society" is too far advanced in the strict 

 course of scientific method and treatment to be found available by the increasing 

 numbers of those who desu-e modestly to seek mutual help as learners, but shrink, 

 from the assumption of ranking themselves among the illustrious professors and 

 masters in the science. To meet this want, a number of gentlemen have organized 

 themselves into a Geologists' Association, having for its special purpose the pro- 

 viding those means of intercommunication and mutual help. It is x)roposed to 

 hold regular meetings ; to form a museum of typical specimens ; to aflbrd facilities 

 for the collection and exchange of specimens, and for rectifymg doubtfully named 

 ones ; to communicate information as to the best methods of search, localities, 

 &c. which the experience of members may enable them to interchange ; and, in 

 general, to enable the practical student in Geology to find a congenial place where 

 doubts may be stated and experience exchanged, — and so the pursuit of this 

 interesting and invaluable branch of inquiry be made at once pleasanter, and freed 

 from some of the difficulties which now attend the pursuit of it both by individuals 

 and localized institutions. The Association will embrace members both in town 

 and country ; its objects and usefulness being equally available by those in either, 

 with the exception, in the latter case, of the general opportunities of personal 

 attendance at the meetings. The subscriptions have been fixed purposely, and. 

 with deliberate consideration, at a rate which Avill exclude none from the benefits 

 it can give. The subscription for town membei'S is shillings a-year ; for country 



