SCRATCHED ROCKS. 
245 
The preceding wood-cut represents a specimen in the State Collection, from this quarry, of 
more than ordinary interest. It shows three different sets of scratches as to parallelism. The 
last that were made are remarkably well defined; two of them show that the moving power 
which produced them, passed over the surface with a vibratory or tremulous motion. It is 
finely exhibited in No. 4, which presents, on both sides of the scratch, a series of continuous 
nicks, which could only have been produced by a like movement. The parallel scratch 
No. 2 shows the same operation, but imperfectly without the aid of a glass ; and being more 
deeply marked, it would appear that the greater pressure was upon that part. What adds 
greatly to their interest is this fact, that the last made scratches are delicate in their delinea¬ 
tion, and as fresh as if the work of yesterday; making it necessary that a sudden movement 
should take place so soon as finished, by which the shallow waters ceased, and a covering of 
earth was deposited upon the surface of the rock, under which, like the works of art in Pom¬ 
peii, the scratches have been preserved to our day. 
The surface of the same mass of limestone, at Stanton’s quarry to the east of Port Jack- 
son, opposite Amsterdam, has likewise been worn smooth and scratched, and in an east and 
west direction. These quarries are at very different elevations; one rising about fifty feet 
above the Mohawk, the other at least two to three hundred. 
The same water-worn or smooth surface also appears at Sage and Reed’s quarry, about four 
miles west on the same side of the river, with also narrow scratches having the same direction. 
The conglomerate at the point of the hill at Mason’s quarry, between New-Hartford centre 
and Utica, faces the Sauquoit on one side and the Mohawk on the other. It shows, in seve¬ 
ral places where the soil which covers it has been removed, a water-worn surface, the peb¬ 
bles of the rock reduced by grinding to all imaginable dimensions. The scratches upon that 
which was exposed were but faint, and in the direction of the lesser or Sauquoit valley. 
The same rock, on a similar point near the Oriskany to the north of Stebbins’ creek, and 
not far from the Chenango canal, shows a like water-worn surface, and with faint scratches 
in the same north and south direction. 
The hard encrinal mass, which corresponds with the position of the upper ore bed of the 
Clinton group, forms a point or projection on the west side of the Oriskany, to the north of 
Hamilton college. This point has been water-worn, and covered with alluvial. In removing 
a portion of the latter at one of the quarries, subsequent to my examination, Dr. Penny saw 
scratches upon the rock, in a north and south direction, and corresponding therefore with the 
Oriskany valley. 
The calciferous sandrock on the north side of the Nose, for several feet above the road, to 
the east of Spraker’s house, shows a water-worn appearance, with scratches, though not 
deep; they were also parallel to the course of the river, or its valley. 
These doubtless are but a few of many points, where a water-worn surface with scratches 
may be seen in the third district; not having made them an object of search, but merely 
noted them when they came under observation. The facts in the third district in respect to 
them, are these, that they belong to no particular rock, to no particular elevation; and that 
