Wyman.] 288 [September 18, 



Dr. Wyman also gave an account of a visit recently made 

 to an Indian " shell heap " on one of the islands on the north 

 side of Frenchman's Bay, near Mt. Desert, Maine. 



The shells forming this deposit were chiefly those of the common 

 clam (M. arenaria), with which were mingled those of Buccinwn un- 

 ilatum, Natica Jieros, Tritonium decemcostatum, and a species of large 

 Mytilus. They were deposited in two distinct strata, which had been 

 partially carried away by the action of the sea. After the lowermost 

 layer had been completed, the place appears to have been for a time 

 abandoned, when it became covered to the depth of six or eight 

 inches with a vegetable mould containing small pebbles. The shells 

 of this lower layer were much decomposed, and had the appearance 

 of much greater age than those of the upper. The second stratum 

 consisted of shells well preserved, and was in turn covered with veg- 

 etable mould, and also supported a growth of forest trees. The 

 entire thickness of the two strata was a little less than four feet. 

 Mingled with the shells were fragments of charcoal and pieces of 

 worked flint, including two arrow-heads. Besides the above, various 

 implements of bone were found, consisting of slender pointed pieces, 

 which might have served as perforating instruments, and a variety of 

 small spindle-shaped pieces about two inches in length. One of the 

 prongs of a large antler was found, having one of the ends rudely 

 cut to an edge, and also a metatarsal bone of an elk, and another of 

 a deer, which had been split lengthwise with some rude implement, 

 probably of stone. A groove had been cut on the two sides nearly to 

 the medullary cavity, and then the fore and hind portions of the 

 bone had been broken apart. The gi'oove was crooked, and the bot- 

 tom 'and sides were roughly striated. Implements of bone have 

 rarely been met with in this section of the United States. 



More or less broken bones of the following animals were discovered, 

 viz., elk, deer, beaver, woodchuck, seal, several species of birds, 

 mostly aquatic, and fish. A single piece of pottery was obtained; 

 this was made of clay mixed with finely pounded sheUs, and was 

 slightly ornamented. The inner surface was covered with what ap- 

 peared to be burned food. 



In exploring the shell heaps above described. Dr. Wyman was 

 aided by Dr. Calvin Ellis, Messrs. John L. Hayes, William A. Hayes, 

 and 11. E. Fitz, to whom he is indebted for several valuable speci- 

 mens found by them. The specimens collected are deposited in the 

 Peabody Museum at Cambridge. 



Mr. Morse described a recent examination of shell heaps on Goose 

 Island, in Casco Bay, Me., where he found a similar disposition of 

 material as described by Prof. Wyman. 



