MODERN SUPERFICIAL DEPOSITS. 
347 
The whole surface, for half a mile, is saturated with water, and springs gush out at every 
step. We see very plainly how fallacious would be any reasoning as to the nature of these 
deposits from what appears upon the surface. 
A similar modern deposition at Goat island, on the Niagara, will be described, in connection 
with the falls and river channel. Numerous local deposits of this character, of greater or 
less extent, can be found in nearly all the ancient valleys of the Fourth District, but it would 
occupy too much space to describe them. They are often, and generally due to similar 
causes with those above detailed. It appears as if, after the elevation of this region from be¬ 
neath the sea, extensive lakes were left upon some of the higher grounds occupying broad 
depressions ; and that these have frequently burst their barriers, producing local depositions 
of gravel and coarse sand along their outlets or in the valleys below. 
44 s 
