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cells, and the size and form of the areola, Prof. Rogers considered 

 the structure of these Lignites as closely agreeing with that of 

 the fossil coniferous wood described and figured by Witham, 

 under the name of Pence Hutlonia and P. Lindhiana. This 

 fossil genus, almost identical in woody structure with the modern 

 pine, was found by Witham to be restricted to rocks of the 

 Oolitic period. Hence the characters of these Lignites, while 

 they furnished a new evidence in favor of the view which Prof. 

 Rogers has heretofore maintained, of the near affinity in time of 

 the so-called New Red Sandstone, or Triassic rocks of this country, 

 and the coal -bearing deposits of eastern Virginia and North 

 Carolina, helped to confirm his conclusion that both these belts 

 belong to a period corresponding to the lower part of the Oolite 

 or Jurassic series of Europe. Prof. Rogers added that these 

 Lignites appear to be identical in structure with that variety of 

 silicified wood, found in the coal-bearing rocks of eastern Vir- 

 ginia, to which he had formerly referred when speaking of the 

 Jurassic age of these deposits. 



Prof. H. D. Rogers called attention to the numerous and ex- 

 tensive deposits of Lignite reported as occurring in the region of 

 the Upper Missouri, and within and beyond the Rocky Moun- 

 tains, and stated that probably several of the reputed localities 

 of bituminous coal, that, for instance, near Fort Bridger, laid 

 down as a true coal basin, by Capt. Stansbury, are but lignite 

 deposits of a modern geological age. Stress has been laid, by 

 Col. Benton and others, on the occurrence of coal in the Rocky 

 Mountains, in connection with the great question of an eligible 

 railroad line westward to the Pacific ; and there can be no doubt 

 the discovery of true coal fields in the far interior of the con- 

 tinent is a matter of national interest. The wide diffusion of 

 strata of the age of the Carboniferous Limestone lends likelihood 

 to the belief in their existence, but we are greatly in want of 

 scientific evidence. 



The lignites exhibited this evening, from the rocks of the 

 Oolitic age, of Virginia and Pennsylvania, show us how easily 

 such specimens may be mistaken for true coal, by any but 

 initiated observers. 



Prof. H. D. Rogers made a brief verbal communication, ill us- 



