SW_GH1804_036

the rivers and creeks, but also upon the hills and in the valleys. They are limestone, and are composed altogether of marine shells. The stone when broken discovers the size and shape of theshells very perfectly. These shells are of the same description with those I have formerly obtained from the banks of the Chesapeake Bay, in the lower part of the State of Maryland. It may be remarked, that no shell-fish of this description are at present to be found in any of the waters of our Continent. The country west of the Ohio river through which we have passed is a limestone country, the very pebbles and even sand in many places are limestone. Heretofore I have omitted to mention that in the neighborhood of Chilicothe, we amused our-selves with the earths and stones, which were dug out of the ground in sinking wells. There are several layers or strata of limestone, gravel, and sand, within a few feet of the surface of the earth. Some of the stones contain the above description of marine shells, and in breaking some of the large gravel we found appearances of the same shells. The stones as well as the gravel have evident marks of their having been washed with water, their shape inclining greatly to rotundity. 24th. Again proceeded upon our journey, and after riding eight miles reached Dayton, where we lodged. This town is newly laid out, situ-