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of stratification of the limestone rock, the fashion or pattern of 

 the stalactitic drapery will he more or less determined by the posi- 

 tion and arrangement of these divisional surfaces. Where, as in 

 parts of Wejer's Cave, in Virginia, these planes of bedding are 

 steeply inclined, and meet the roof in a series of parallel lines, 

 the concretionary action seems to have commenced by forming 

 parallel rows of stalactites along these lines. This process, in 

 certain places, has gone on until by lateral union of the adjoining 

 pendants of each row, they have been transformed into parallel 

 sheets of stone, which, in some instances, extend from the roof to 

 the floor. From their great extent, and a degree of thinness 

 which, in part, renders them translucent, these sheets are capable 

 of being thrown into sonorous vibration by a blow from the heel 

 near the ground, and under these circumstances they emit a mu- 

 sical sound of great depth and force. 



March 19, 1856. 

 Dr. Chas. T. Jackson, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Prof. Jeffries Wyman exhibited an interesting factitious speci- 

 men, alleged to have been taken from the jaw of the Musk Ox, 

 and presenting, externally, the odor of musk. The specimen 

 was placed in his hands by Dr. A. A. Hayes, for physiological 

 examination. Upon looking at the specimen superficially, it had 

 the appearance of integument, covered with hair, and inclosing 

 some solid substance, and it was evidently prepared to resemble a 

 glandular body secreting the odoriferous substance, and removed 

 with the adjacent integument. It, however, was very clearly not 

 a natural production ; and upon making a section of the speci- 

 men, it was found to be composed of a solid, brownish-black mass, 

 mingled with a certain amount of hairs, but not resembling a 

 glandular secretion. It was apparently a ball of some material, 

 scented, and covered with hairy skin. 



Dr. Hayes remarked that the material contained in the so- 



PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H. VOL. V. 22 JULY, 1856, 



