398 
[Assembly 
greater elevation. The commencement of the fossihferous strata of the 
Chemmig group is at a little distance north of Loon lake. Few sec- 
tions are exposed, and our observations are hmited to the loose masses 
on the surface, and a few shallow ravines where five or six feet of rock 
are seen.* 
Several places on Neil's creek, south of Loon lake, exhibit good sec- 
tions of rocks consisting of grey siliceous sandstone with Leptaena, Del- 
thyris, &c. and alternating with beds of shale. These points are near 
where the creek turns from a southern to an eastern course ; again two 
miles further east, and at Rice's Cottage tavern, similar masses of 
sandstone, both siliceous and shaly, are found upon the surface from 
near the mouth of Neil's creek, to Howard. These rocks are doubtless 
the same strata which occupy the hill tops about Loon lake ; though at 
this place 200 feet higher. The exposed edges of the strata split into 
thin layers, but if penetrated beyond the reach of weathering, it would 
probably afford good building stone. 
The country known as Howard Flats, is formed of alluvial hills and 
ridges but little elevated above the general level ; and being a high and 
not well defined valley, presenting outlets in various directions. I 
could not ascertain the depth of the alluvium, but the deepest wells do 
not reach its termination ; and the absence of an impervious stratum in 
the gravel renders it often difiicult to obtain water in sufficient quanti- 
ties. 
In passing from Howard to the Canisteo valley, at Hornellsville, we 
cross^the highest hills in this part of the county. The rocks consist 
of portions of the last group ; shaly sandstone, shale and siliceous sand- 
stone, all containing fossils, are found along the whole distance. 
The northern alluvium, confined to lower levels, is not seen along 
the road from Howard to Canisteo ; and the soil is a clayey gravel 
formed from the substrata and not highly water worn. In descending 
into the valley of the Canisteo, we again come upon the northern allu- 
vium, which is the soil of the valley, and covers the lower slope of the 
hills, 
* Loon lake is situated in a high valley ; the hills on the east and west rise to a con- 
siderable height, but on the north and south there is almost a continuous level, form- 
ing an extensive swamp ; the lake has no immediate outlet, but its waters supply 
Neil's creek which rises in the swamp, half a mile south. From the north end of the 
lake an artificial outlet supplies water for mills, and is continued as far as Patchins, 
