1892.] NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 99 



specimens there is some indication of plant remains, either in the 

 form of lignite, stems, leaves, or fruit. Considerable work yet 

 remains to be done on the material now in hand, and there is no 

 doubt that more can be collected as soon as the weather is such as 

 to permit of field work. 



The remains comprise conifers, apparently allied to Sequoia and 

 Finns; ThinfeJdia Lesquereuxiana, Heer ; Eucalyptus Geimtzii, 

 Heer ; Frofxoides daphuogenoides, Heer ; Lauriis plutonia, Heer ; 

 Liriodendron simplex, Newb., which latter is by far the most 

 abundantly represented species; Diospyros primaeva, Heer, besides 

 many others which mig-ht be provisionally referred to other well- 

 recognized cretaceous types. There are also some specimens which 

 may represent undescribed species, but as nearly the entire series 

 will doubtless be duplicated in the forthcoming flora of the Amboy 

 clays by Dr. Newberry, and as there is no desire on my part to 

 anticipate any of this work, it has been thought best to leave all 

 doubtful material until some time in the future. For this reason 

 only such specimens have been figured in the accompanying plates 

 as are unmistakably referable to previously described cretaceous 

 species. Nor shall I attempt to discuss whether or not these species 

 have been placed in their proper genera by their respective authors. 

 My object in presenting this paper in its present shape has been, 

 first, to place all the facts upon record in a compact and available 

 form, and second, to assist in the solution of the problem as to the 

 extent and character of the cretaceous strata on Staten Island. 

 With the foregoing facts in our possession it seems reasonable to 

 consider that the existence of cretaceous strata throughout the area 

 mentioned has been proven, and that they are of marine origin. 

 Other points of interest, however, remain to be discussed. 



The character of the rock, in which the organic remains occur, 

 will naturally be the first to attract attention. In every instance, 

 except in the case of the plastic clay bed at Kreischerville, the con- 

 cretionary nature of the rock is apparent ; the nucleus being a mass 

 of clay or " kaolin" in which are inclosed the molluscs or plant re- 

 mains, as the case may be. Limonite often forms as a crust over 

 the outside, nodules of pyrite are frequently included, and the 

 nucleus becomes transformed into a hard clay iron-stone, sand- 

 stone, or even chert. A large series of specimens collected show 

 every stage in the process of formation from soft clay or " kaolin" 

 to hard rock. In the softer material some of the carbon of the 

 vegetation may yet be seen, but in the completely transformed 

 material nothing except the impressions of leaves or stems reniains. 



Finally, the question will undoubtedly be asked, are these fossils in 

 place where found? In order to answer this question intelligently, 

 each locality should be considered separately. At Tottenville the 

 fossiliferous rock has only been found on the shore at the base of a 

 bluft", some twenty feet in height, composed almost entirely of drift 

 material. The summit is fine sand, then bowlder clay, in which 

 glaciated stones are abundant, and finally more or less irregularly 



