No. 200.] 195 
nearly parallel with the St. Lawrence. The first, which passes through 
the above named townships, lies between the transition and primary, or 
between the transition sandstones and gneiss; the second lies between 
the gneiss and a member of the granitic family, an unstratified forma- 
tion, and very properly denominated as above. The middle district is 
the hilly portion of the county. The third and most eastern is, the 
mountainous, and bears only a small projwrtion in extent to the other 
districts. It is proper to remark farther, in relation to the gneiss dis- 
trict, that it is not purely gneiss. Large beds of other rocks frequently 
occur, particularly of granite and limestone. It is, therefore, only the 
basis rock, or the predominant rock; and although there may be a great 
variation, taking the whole stratum together, of mineral character, and 
the frequent occurrence of granite, limestone, sienite, hornblende, stea- 
tite, serpentine, &c. still I consider it better to denominate the whole 
as gneiss, and to describe the other rocks as subordinate beds. 
In relation to the gneiss, it is necessary to remark still farther, that 
its stratification is often obscure; its texture confusedly crystalline; its 
mica not very distinctly disposed in parallel layers; and besides fre- 
quently occurs in thick beds; in fine, as a whole it appears to be one 
remove from the fissile gneiss towards granite, and in truth it often 
passes into it. 
The apparent confusion occasioned by the passing of one rock into 
another, or the blending of the materials of one rock with those of ano- 
ther, though it tends to baffle all attempts at classification, yet it throws 
light on the circumstances which attended their original formation, or 
on the changes they have subsequently undergone. The observation of 
phenomena of this kind, lead by approximation to the final establish- 
ment of correct views of the nature and action of the forces employed 
in their formation, and are, therefore, worthy the attentive examination 
of the practical geologist. 
Granite, 
As has been stated already, the granite of this district occurs in beds 
and veins, subordinate to gneiss. The former are sometimes exten- 
sive. It varies in texture from fine to coarse; is usually gray, and fre- 
quently contains large imbedded crystals of feldspar, smoky quartz and 
large plates of mica. It occurs in three modes. 1st. In large irregu- 
lar beds or protruded masses. 2d. In the form of veinSj branching ir- 
regularly into the adjacent rock. 3d. In overlying masses, analagous 
to overflowing lava currents or greenstone. Whenever it is interlami- 
