No. 50.] 
443 
local, the materials consisting of a few rocks in the immediate vicinity ; 
in such cases we shall probably find a local cause, as the outbursting 
of a lake, or the embouchure of a large water course. 
• From the conditions under which the transported soil was brought 
into its present position, it must necessarily be of varied character. 
Where thrown down by a violent current, it is a confused mass of sand, 
gravel and pebbles ; where deposited by less rapid waters, finer mate- 
rials are found ; and where the waters had become more quiet, clay 
which remains longest in suspension, is spread over the surface. Ma- 
ny causes may have modified the results. 
The soil of the hills consists principally of the comminuted materials 
of the substrata, and varies with the nature of those. It is generally, 
rather clayey gravel, or loamy, and contains numerous angular, or slightly 
rounded fragments of the underlying rocks. Primitive boulders are 
sometimes found on the surface, but their great proportion is confined to 
near the limits of the alluvial transported soil. The hill soil, is never 
very deep, the rock being frequently reached in ploughing ; and when 
removed from the more abrupt declivities, the surface of the solid rock 
is found covered with flat angular fragments of all dimensions, which 
have apparently been but loosened from their original position, and have 
fallen down the hill. 
The formation of this soil, and the occurrence of the great number 
of angular fragments, can only be explained on the supposition, that the 
hills have been covered with water ; which gradually retiring, and be- 
ing agitated by winds and somewhat by currents, has broken up the 
rocks, and formed the soil without removing it out of place. It does 
not appear that there were any violent currents, these only affecting the 
parts near the outlets, and above a certain elevation, the whole might 
have been very gradually drained by numerous outlets, and no rapid cur- 
rent caused in any direction. Subsequent effects of freezing and thawing, 
rains, &c. may have modified the character of this soil, for the frost 
usually penetrates to the rock beneath. And much indeed bears evi- 
dent marks of having been formed by the gradual decomposition of the 
mass, with no more change than may be produced by the actual vicissi- 
tudes of the climate. 
We have then in the southern counties two soils, essentially differ- 
ing from each other. The rocks of this region being nearly destitute 
of lime, it follows that the soil resulting from them, bears the same 
