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Becemher 18, 1850. 

 Dr. D. H. Storer, Vice-President, in the Chair. 

 Present, thirty-one members. 



Dr. T. M. Brewer read a paper on the habits of some 

 American birds, as observed by him during a visit to New 

 Brunswick and Nova Scotia, in June, 1850. Referred to 

 the Publishing Committee. 



Mr. Wells stated, that a vein of Phosphate of Lime 

 exists near Crown Point, New York. It was discovered 

 during the Geological Survey of that State, but had been 

 only recently worked. 



The vein had been traced for thirty or forty rods, and it had 

 been opened continuously for thirty feet. In some places it is 

 six feet in width, varying from two to six feet. Thirty tons of 

 it have already been raised, and it is purposed to grind it for 

 agricultural purposes. The vein occurs in gneiss, associated 

 with a primary limestone and a green stone dike, which also 

 contains phosphoric acid. Direction of the vein nearly east and 

 west ; dip, north, at a high angle. 



The chemical composition of the mineral is as follows : — 



In color it is dull and opaque, of a dirty green ; hardness, 4 ; 

 Specific gravity, 3.06. 



The discovery of this and the New Jersey deposit would seem 

 to controvert the notion of some geologists, that the Phosphoric 

 acid in the primary rocks is derived from organic remains. 



Mr. Alger remarked, that the presence of 5 per cent, of oxide 

 of iron in the New York Phosphate makes it less valuable for 

 the manufacture of crockery ware. 



