The Hon. Mr. Strangways on the Geology , &V. 393 
Petersburg, than Podolia or Scania, it might be premature to decide. 
Others, again, believe it to be a country of coal measures, and are 
perhaps the most sincere in their opinions, having voluntarily put 
themselves to a great expense in boring for it in different parts of 
the country : these researches have hitherto been attended with 
results satisfactory to none but those who never believed in its 
existence in this quarter. Some appearances would connect it with 
the salt formation ; others with the mountain lime. It has also 
been associated with the transition rocks, as they are called, more 
particularly grauwacke. Few, indeed, are the strata to which the 
name of the latter formation, the Proteus of geology, has not been 
applied. 
The tract of country which it has been more particularly in my 
power to examine, may be comprised within a circle of about forty 
versts* radius from the fortress of Petersburg, taken as a center, 
(Plate 28). I may have occasion to mention some interesting 
points beyond these limits, connected, as it will appear, with the 
district under consideration, but which connexion I have not had 
the opportunity of proving, i. e. of tracing it step by step ; but 
I hope by so doing, to give indications which will be sufficient for 
those who may hereafter visit the north of Russia with the same 
views. 
The Delta of the Neva, extending nearly nine versts from north 
to south, is entirely comprehended within the gates of Petersburg ; 
the Taracanovca,j' or beetle, branch, which is the most southerly, 
flowing close by the new gate or triumphal arch on the Peterhof 
road, and the Wyborg gate being placed beyond the little Nevka, 
* The verst, as now established, is equal to about three quarters of a mile English j 
formerly it was much longer, and still varies on different roads. 
f So called from its abounding in targcans or beetles. 
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