130 
GEOLOGY. 
rock, perforated in every direction by boring-shells, which were still remaining in their cells, 
one or more shells being often found in the same cavity. The layer of fossils consisted, in great 
part, of fragments, evidently the debris and ruin of a beach. A great number of beautiful spe¬ 
cimens were, however, obtained before the time for returning to the steamer arrived. 
In passing back along the beach, it was observed that great numbers of these fossils had been 
broken out by the waves, and strewn along the beach among the recent shells. They could, 
however, be distinguished by their color, but did not appear to differ much in their forms. 
Under the high bluffs, I found many rounded masses of .rock as black as ebony, and very smooth 
and light, and yet presenting very fine lines of stratification, as numerous and as thin as the 
leaves of a book. These were at first thought to be a peculiar coal , but the fracture showed 
them to be very hard and vitreous. They had the lustre of an impure resin, or hard tar. On 
drying, the surface became white, the fresh fractures remaining black, or a dark greenish-black. 
(Nos. 155 and 156 of the Catalogue.) A fragment of sandstone, traversed by seams or veins 
of clear bitumen, was also found. 
Numerous species of living shells were collected ; they were very abundant on the beach and 
rocks at low tide. 
The surface of the country is gently rolling, or nearly a plain, and there are no trees. A 
warehouse at the landing and two or three tenements were the only evidences of inhabitants. 
The harbor is very open ; but a limited space could be protected by a breakwater. 
December 24.— Santa Barbara. —The mountains back of this place rise to a great height, and 
appear to extend nearly east and west. A narrow and abrupt slope to the sea is the site of the 
town. Trees were observed, and the Mission buildings presented a fine appearance on the high 
ground back of'the town, which is near to the beach. There being no wharf, freight was landed 
through the surf, being taken from the boats on the backs of the men. Dr. Heerman, who 
went on shore, found a bank similar to that at San Pedro, and obtained several fossils, among 
them a gigantic “boat shell,” or Crepidula. The mountains at this part of the coast are so 
near the sea, and so rugged, as to appear almost impracticable for a railroad. 
December 25.— San Luis Obispo and Monterey. —We stopped for a few moments only at San 
Luis Obispo, and reached and left Monterey in the night, so that no observations on the rocks 
of these two places could be made. Arrived at San Francisco on the afternoon of the 26th of 
December. 
