Davis. J 174 [Dec. 6, 
directly heliiml ;i low belt of sands or gravels, which separates 
them from the consuming waves. In a longer time, or at places 
of more energetic action, the sand barrier >nay be destroyed, and 
then the waves will carry beach sand and pebbles over the soil of 
the swamp ; the trees will die, but their stumps may remain in 
the muddy soil outside of the beach for a considerable time later. 
Many examples of this relation of old swamps and modern 
beaches may be found. The diverging roots of a dozen or more 
trees may be counted in the old swamp soil now exposed below 
the beach sand and gravel at low tide just west of Bass River, a 
mile from the village of South Yarmouth. The swamp soil is 
continuous with a marshy belt inland from the sandy beach. 
The beach has manifestly been pushed inland across the swamp. 
The occurrence of the tree roots below high-tide level in such a 
case certainly gives no indication of change of level. If older 
trees had sunk in the swamp and been ])uried in its accumulating 
peaty soil, they might now be found several feet below low water 
mark. West of Succonnessett Point, a similar relation of exist- 
ing swamp and old swamp soil with standing tree stumps was 
noticed, the two being separated by a sand beach, which was 
manifestly working its way inland, as appears from the receding 
cliffs directly east of the point. 
In mentioning this matter, I do not wish to imply that tree 
stumps are never carried below ocean level by submergence of the 
land on which they grew ; but merely to point out that the fisher- 
man's explanation as well as the one more generally current 
among geologists should be considered when such stumps are 
observed. The case is analogous to that of the rough chipped 
stones, in which geologists and archaeologists are now so much 
interested. The newer interpretation of these stones does not 
prove that no chipped stones are implements ; but merely requires 
that an observation which formerly had but one interpretation 
must now be considered in the light of two possible intei-preta- 
tions. Whichever one best suits all the facts may then be 
accepted. 
It seems to follow from these notes that the only change of level 
in southeastern Massachusetts,. since the last ice invasion, was a 
slight depression. As elevation certainly occurred farther north, 
the depression on the southern coast may have been part of a 
tilting movement, by which slopes to the south were slightly 
