NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 279 



out, and a stem of an inch in length curving upward from the bottom, 

 being similar in shape to most of the briar-root pipes of the present 

 day ; the third variety is a flattened tube of an inch and a half in width by 

 three inches in length, with a bowl of an inch in diameter upon one end. Of 

 this latter variety but two specimens have been found, so far as the author 

 can ascertain. They were both well covered with deeply engraved de- 

 signs, the principal one of which was evidently intended for the rising 

 or setting sun. Fragments of pottery are also numerous, but not as pro- 

 miscuously scattered in the locality as are the other articles mentioned. 

 They are generally from two to four inches square, and always marked more 

 or less with lines, dots, circles, &c, but never appear to have any particular 

 design. 



The bluff fronting the Delaware, and varying from thirty to seventy feet 

 in height, contains, throughout the greater portion of its extent, human 

 skeletons in a moderate state of preservation. They are all buried in 

 a recumbent position, with their feet pointing to the east invariably. The- 

 majority of them are encased in clay coffins, which latter have so far proved 

 too fragile to bear exhuming entire. 



No skeletons have yet been discovered with these, that have been buried in a sitting 

 posture, but below the southern limit of the locality treated of in this paper 

 (Bordentown) the skeletons exhumed are found in such a position.* 



These clay coffins, as the fragments of pottery to be found, are always co- 

 vered with fantastical markings, evidently intending to portray, in the cof- 

 fins, however, some object or objects ; but specimens have not yet been pro- 

 cured of sufficient size to determine the exact character of the figuring. This 

 pottery is generally a third of an inch in thickness. 



The following interesting account was communicated to me by Mr. T. A. 

 Conrad of Trenton member of the Academy : 



" In 1829, while taking earth from the bluffy bank of Watson's creek, a small 

 stream about a mile distant from the locale of the "lance-heads," afire-place 

 or oven was discovered. The spot was walled about with large stones, all 

 well blackened by fire, and the enclosure was covered with well preserved 

 wood ashes. Fragments of pottery were also scattered about the enclo- 

 sure, and pieces of larger size were inside, indicating the breakage there of a 

 vessel. The "fire-place" or oven was about seven feet below the top of the 

 creek bank, about two feet above high-water mark, and three below the level of 

 the surrounding meadow." 



The meadow surrounding the place is usually inundated once yearly, but 

 at present the deposition is not appreciable ; although Mr. Conrad states 

 that the whole meadows were formed by such depositions. 



These are the points of interest connected with the locality, and with the 

 discovery of the collection of "lance-heads," which latter appears to be an 

 unique phase in the discovery of Indian antiquities in this neighborhood. 

 Many vague rumors prevail in the locality of the discovery now and then, 

 and formerly, of copper bracelets, strings of sea-shells on copper-wire, &c, 

 but no such specimens have been seen, as yet, by the author. 



Description of a New Species of PLEUROCERA. 

 BY GEORGE W. TRYON. JR. 



Pleurocera plicatum, Tryon, t. 2, f. 6. 



Description. Shell ovate-conical, spire attenuate, the upper whorls closely 

 plicate, the lower ones smooth or obsoletely concentrically striate. Whorls 



* Catalogue of Crania in Acad. Nat. Sci., Philadelphia, by J. Aitken Meigs, M. D. Manta Indian 

 crania. 



1863.] 



