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vations in geology, especially in relation to the fossil fishes of 

 the so-called New Red Sandstone belt of New Jersey and Con- 

 necticut, as well as those of the coal rocks of Eastern Virginia. 

 In this inquiry, he had the valuable assistance of his son, Mr. 

 John H. Redfield, to whom we ai'e indebted for descriptions and 

 figures of several of these interesting fossils, as well as for im- 

 portant suggestions, founded on zoological affinities, as to the age 

 of the belt of rocks in which they are entombed. 



The continuation of this work had long, I believe, been a 

 favorite plan with Mr. Redfield, and seems to have been one of 

 the last subjects connected with scientific pursuits which engaged 

 his attention ; for on his visit to Boston in the autumn, he spoke 

 with much interest of having resumed the task of preparing, 

 with the help, I think, of Prof. Agassiz, a comprehensive mono- 

 graph of the fossil fishes of this group of strata. But alas, on 

 the 12th of February, he was called on to relinquish this and all 

 other labors. He died at the ripe age of 68 years, but with 

 faculties unimpaired, leaving us to regret that he could not have 

 lived to continue his useful career, and yet giving us, in what he 

 had done, cause to rejoice that he was permitted to work so long 

 and so successfully in extending science and promoting the in- 

 terests of mankind. 



Such is a slight notice of the scientific labors of Mr. Redfield. 

 The esteem in which they are held is best proved by the honoi*- 

 able rank to which they raised him among the cultivators of 

 positive science. Of his character as a gentleman, whether in 

 society, or presiding at a meeting of the American Association 

 of Science, I would gladly speak were it in my power to depict 

 the gentleness and modesty of his discourse, and that union of 

 amiable and manly qualities which won the affection and respect 

 of so many of his associates in scientific pursuits. But I must 

 leave such a tribute to other and more competent hands, and will 

 now bring my remarks to a close by asking the Society to adopt 

 the following resolutions : — 



Resolved, That the late William C. Redfield, by his sagacity 

 and patience in philosophical researches, and by the importance 

 of the conclusions which he assisted in demonstrating, has re- 

 flected honor upon the progressive science of our country, and 

 earned a title to the lasting recollection of his scientific brethren, 

 and, 



