70 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEIHT 



Professor H. D. Rogers observed that this would indicate a 

 more recent age for the bird-tracks of the Connecticut Sand- 

 stone. 



Professor Agassiz remarked, in reference to the footmarks 

 of the Potsdam Sandstone* which Professor Owen had de- 

 scribed as those of turtles, but which he at the same time 

 maintained were those of Crustaceans, have now been ad- 

 mitted by Owen himself to belong to the latter ; so that there 

 is no evidence that reptiles have been found below the coal. 



Professor H. D. Rogers alluded to bones of reptiles having 

 been found in Germany in strata equivalent to the carbonifer- 

 ous limestone, one degree older than the coal. Professor 

 Agassiz doubts if these are reptilian bones. 



Dr. Hayes connected the coal deposits of the two States by 

 the additional fact, that the chemical constitution of the ac- 

 companying rocks, according to his own examination, is the 

 same. 



Professor Agassiz presented a list of fishes found in the 

 Tennessee River, in all thirty-three species, and of several 

 genera not found in Europe. He mentioned the fact, that 

 many exclusively American species, found in the Southern 

 States from Virginia downwards, are not found in the more 

 Northern States ; he indicated several localities of small ex- 

 tent, which have fishes exclusively their own, so that any 

 former communication of rivers could not explain their limited 

 geographical distribution. The genera are common over ex- 

 tended localities, but each region has its representative species. 



Tbree hundred and ninety-first meeting. 



December 27, 1853. — Semi-Monthly Meeting. 



The Academy met at their Hall, the Corresponding Secre- 

 tary, and afterwards the President, in the chair. 



The Recording Secretary being absent, Mr. J. H. Abbot was 

 appointed Recording Secretary ^;'o tern. 



Professor Cooke exhibited and described some apparatus 



