154 



opinion on the subject, yet even in these the spiral direction was 

 from right to left. 



With respect to the existence of numerous fossil fungi in the 

 Anthracite, he had already exhibited before the Society speci- 

 mens of the rattan from Singapore (the Palm tribe) on the epi- 

 dermis of which were fungi exactly resembling, both in appear- 

 ance and mode of growth, those on the anthracite. With 

 reference to these, he would remark, that when the globular 

 masses from the coal (resembling Sphceria) were exposed to 

 heat sufficient to burn off the carbon and other matters, much 

 peroxide of iron remained. Sulphur is found oozing out in most 

 of the specimens, and particularly on those containing fungi, and 

 of all vegetable productions, fungi contain by far the largest pro- 

 portion of nitrogen. Now, chemists are aware that if peroxide 

 of iron, sulphur, and sal ammoniac, which contains nitrogen, are 

 intimately mixed together, and heat sufficient to volatilize the 

 nitrogen compound be applied, the result is bisulphide of iron in 

 small brass colored cubes, precisely such as are seen in the spe- 

 cimens of fossil fungi exhibited. In the specimens of fossil fungi 

 resembling the star-fish, a few of these cubes may be seen, but 

 in others three or four times this size, the body is a mass of these 

 yellow-colored metallic cubes. 



Prof. Rogers said, that he agreed with Mr. Teschemacher 

 as to the importance of an examination of numerous speci- 

 mens of the fossils in question, particularly in their native 

 beds. He had himself passed the last seven months in the 

 coal region of Pennsylvania, and had seen many specimens 

 of the Sigillaria in the coals. The Stigmaria^ with their 

 rootlets, were found in the under clay, except where the 

 overlying strata were filled up with the broken fragments of 

 both these fossils, together with Ferns, Lepidodendra, &;c. 



The President alluded to the circumstance, that the 

 remains of the supposed food of the Mastodon giganteus 

 had been examined by Prof. Carpenter, in London, and 

 Prof. Gray, of Cambridge, and found to be composed of 

 small branches of Picea. 



