NOTES AND QUERIES. 
39 
stood at a higher level than at present, or by all these agencies at different epochs 
collectively I It appears pretty evident that this locality was submerged during 
the Glaciiil 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 mns in 
a south-easterly direction, would l)e imfavourable for the deposition of sediment 
dining the drift-period ; and such I find to be the ciise ; in fact, the cun-ents 
coming from the north would tend to wear the channel deeper ; whereas, in the 
case of the rivrdets that run into the river at right angles to its course, there is a 
large deposit of clay and boulders on their vorlk or shelteird sides. I also send you 
some specimens broken from a block of Scotch Granite, as I suppose it to be, which 
I picked nj) in this district. The boulder weighs several pounds, anti, if I am 
correct, nuist have been floated hither on an ice-raft from Scotland, when our fine 
romantic dale was covered w ith water ! We have no Granite like this in the north 
of England that I know of ; Shap Fell Granite being of a very different kind. 
Such are my opinions ; and such are my queries ; I now ask your assistance and 
advice. I tiiink your answers to the above would much interest many readers of 
the Geologist beside myself. — Dear Su", yours tmly, J. Elliott. — Weardale, 
Durham." — Our correspondent's inquiries are legitimate and well directed ; and 
we hope that some day ecerybody will be sufficiently enlightened to trouble them- 
selves with similai' questions as to the physical features of the localities where 
they live, and in time sufficiently conversant with the principles of Geology from 
their very school-days, to recognize the chief reasons for the contours and structure 
of the hills and valleys ai-ound 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 gi'ouiid rose, the 
action of the waves of the advancing shore-line widened the fissure, sometimes 
sweeping away the debris, and sometimes leaving it as gravel 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 valleys, but filling up the lower parts with 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 tliis theory of the 
formation and modification of valleys to individual instances must be left to local 
experience. Doubtless our coiTespondent 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 
com'se of scientific method and treatment to be found availal>le by the increasing 
numbers of those who desire modestly to seek mutual help as learners, but sluink 
from the assumption of ranking themselves among the illustrious professors and 
masters in the science. To meet this want, a numljer of gentlemen have organized 
themselves into a Geologists' Association, having for its S])ecial purpose the pro- 
viding those means of intercommunication and mutual help. It is proposed to 
hold regular meetings ; to form a museum of typical specimens ; to afford facilities 
for the collection anil exchange of specimens, and for rectifying 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 jjlace where 
doubts may be stated and experience exchanged, — and so the pursuit of this 
interesting and invalualile branch of inquiry be made at once pleasanter, and fi-eed 
from some of the difficulties which now attend the pursuit of it both by individuals 
and localized institutions. The Association will embrace members botli 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 suliscriptions have been fixed purposely, and 
•with deliberate consideration, at a rate which will exclude none fi'om the benefits 
it can give. The subscription for town members is ten shillings a-year ; for country 
