NORTHERN BOULDERS. 
311 
There were formerly several of these on the road from Caledonia to Batavia, but the following 
is the only one now remaining, which presents much of interest : 
105 . 
Transported Mock of Hydraulic limestone, near Batavia, N. V. 
The upper and lower portions have resisted the action of the weather, while the central 
part has wa ted away. There was formerly another one near this locality, but the upper part 
has since fallen down.* 
In connection with this subject, may be noticed the direction of drift hills, as they occur in 
the eastern part of the district. In many places these hills have no definite direction, but all 
those north of the great valleys of Seneca and Cayuga lakes have a peculiar form and determi¬ 
nate direction. They are long, elevated ridges, rising abruptly on the north, and sloping gra¬ 
dually down to their southern termination. The ascent from the south is almost imperceptible, 
and often scarcely noticed, till one observes himself on an elevation of fifty or sixty feet above 
the valleys on either side. I have been informed by the engineers in this part of the country, 
that a line may be run for a long distance, upon the summits of these hills, having a direction 
N. 10° E.; and from numerous observations, this appears to be the prevailing direction. 
It will also be seen that this direction corresponds very closely with that of Seneca and 
Cayuga lakes. The form of the hills is precisely such as would be made by a powerful cur¬ 
rent passing southward through these valleys, piling up the coarser materials at the northern 
extremity, and moving the finer ones farther on, until they were in some measure protected 
by this barrier before they were deposited. It is quite evident that this took place after the 
formation of the valleys, and probably at the period of, or subsequent to the boulder deposit. 
The materials are often mingled in the greatest confusion, though there seems to have been 
subsequently an equilibrium of the currents ; for there is in many places a regular deposit of 
fine sand, and in the valleys one of clay covering the coarser products. 
* May it not be possible that some operation of this kind may produce the “ rocking stones,” which are such a marvel? If the 
mass wearing away be thin, and those above and below are unaffected by wmather, the one may be very nicely poised upon the 
other, as the matter between is slowly removed. 
