ALLUVIAL DIVISION. 
235 
On the north side of Lloyd’s neck, a sand-spit extends nearly parallel to the original beach, 
to near the mouth of the west inlet, and there gives a passage to the main or east inlet, draining 
the large marsh between the beach and the clay and sand hills of the neck. The alluvial 
lands are here rapidly increasing in area, from the drifting up of shells, sea-weed, and the 
sand and gravel swept along by the strong tidal currents. 
A small sand-spit extends nearly across the harbor, from the northwest part of East neck. 
Natural Ice-houses. 
In Phillipstown, Putnam county, in a transverse valley crossing westward from the Fishkill 
and Coldspring valley, in a deep gorge of the mountains called Hell Hollow, ice frequently 
lies until August, and sometimes through the year. In some parts of this gorge, the sun is 
said never to shine by its direct rays. 
Another locality is in Stony clove, a deep gorge in the Catskill mountains, northward from 
Woodstock in Hunter, Greene county. Another in Deep hollow in Lexington, Greene county, 
in a deep gorge in the mountains, between the head waters of the West kill of Schoharie 
creek, and the Bush kill of the Esopus creek. Ice is said to remain in these valleys till late 
in the summer. Another or others have been described in Pownal, Vermont, or in Peters- 
burgh, Rensselaer county, New-York, very near the State line.* 
Subterranean Streams. 
“ At a short distance from the Canaan line in Columbia county, a small stream of water 
sinks in the ground near the lime rock, and does not appear again for about one fourth of a 
mile, when it comes to the surface on the land of Mr. Lord.”t For other examples of sub¬ 
terranean streams, see pages 109-113 of this volume. 
Bursting of a Pond. 
Many years since, a pond, skirted with marsh containing trees, was situated near the edge 
of the cliff near Swezey’s landing, Suffolk county, Long island. Mr. Skidmore stated, that 
one of his brothers, when young, was playing with another lad in this pond, when the water 
in it was higher than usual. The water burst its barrier, and flowed with the sand of the 
cliff so suddenly into the Sound, as to uproot and bear away the trees, even, in the marsh 
around it. The boys were hurled down the cliff with the descending torrent, with trees, mud 
and sand, into Long Island sound; and the brother of Mr. S. was so much bruised, that he 
died in consequence of his injuries.t 
* Vide American Journal of Science, Vol. 1, p. 340 ; Vol. 4, pp. 331, 332 ; Vol. 5, p. 398. 
t Briggs. Geological Notes on New-York Survey. 
