82 [Setpember, 1841. 



It is perhaps remarkable that many of the crustaceous remains 

 in this deposit are well preserved, while the shells proper are for 

 the most part decomposed. A few specimens of two or three spe- 

 cies of Pecten, of one or two Ostrese, a Plicatula and a Balanus, 

 are occasionally met with, while imperfect casts of numerous spe- 

 cies are very common." 



The calcareous deposit to which the preceding fossils belong, is 

 the newest cretaceous formation of Dr. Morton, who first described 

 its relative position and organic remains in his Synopsis, published 

 in 1834. Dr. M. supposed these beds to be of the same age of the 

 white chalk of Europe ; they are based on the ferruginous sand 

 strata in New Jersey, North and South Carolina, Alabama, &c. ; 

 and the two deposits contain a few fossils which are specifically the 

 same. In fact, the Eocene or lower tertiary, also embraces some 

 species of shells identical with those of the newer cretaceous ; 

 whence the latter beds, like those of the celebrated plateau of Maes- 

 tricht, may prove, as Dr. Mantell has suggested, to be a link 

 between the chalk and the tertiary beds, without being contem- 

 poraneous with either. 



Mr. Quinby made some remarks on the mineral resources 

 and physical geography of that portion of Peru which em- 

 braces the eastern ridges of the Andes. 



He alluded to the treasures which were secreted by the Peru- 

 vians at the epoch of the Spanish invasion, and which have never 

 yet been found, notwithstanding the continued search of the inhabi- 

 tants. But the river Chucabamba possesses natural treasures of great 

 value, for its sands are auriferous for several leagues above and 

 below the temple of the sun. The inhabitants procure it by cutting 

 the wool on sheep skins to half an inch in length, and then sinking 

 them in the rapids, and at the base of the falls of the river, in which 

 position the skins with the woolly side up, are suffered to remain 

 from six to twenty-four hours. They are then carefully removed 

 from the water, and turned wool side down into a batea or tub 

 of water ; the gold is thus washed out, and is collected without fur- 

 ther trouble. 



