Trans. N. Y. Ac. Sci. 144 May 7, 



periodical visits to the coast, collecting vast quantities of clams and 

 oysters, drying and stringing them, and thus transporting them in- 

 land. It would therefore appear that, in that region, the accumu- 

 lation of shells did not particularly imply the consumption of mol- 

 lusks by the Indians who gathered them, as they were probably 

 distributed in the interior. 



In reply to an inquiry, the President stated that there was 

 nothing characteristic about the fragment of pottery found at Rock- 

 away. It is extremely rude, this mode of ornamentation being very 

 common on such Indian pottery, having been effected by a small 

 point, by the dentated edge of a shell, or by a cord. 



Dr. Da Costa stated that pottery of this character was found 

 abundantly near Cape Truro, and was not regarded as very ancient. 



A MEMBER pointed out that the position of the skeleton, with the 

 knees bent forward, so as to touch the chin, was a common one in 

 Indian burial. It was noteworthy that the skeletons occurred in 

 groups of three, as if the wife and cliild had been sacrificed at the 

 grave of the warrior. 



Dr. Britton replied that only one skeleton, the largest, was 

 drawn up in this position, the others lying extended. The three 

 skeletons of the upper group did not lie at the same level, as if 

 they had been irregularly thrown in. 



The President remarked on the frequency of burial in the sit- 

 ting posture, to which reference is made in Longfellow's lines on 

 the " Skeleton in Armor," found at Newport, R. I. Elsewhere the 

 bones are found extended, and, as in Europe, many have suffered 

 cremation. 



A paper was then read by Dr. John S. Newberry, on 



some interesting remains of fossil fishes, recently 

 discovered. 



The specimens, now exhibited to the Academy, are the teeth and den- 

 tal plates of some new and remarkable fishes, from the Devonian rocks 

 of Ohio and New York. One group represents parts of the dentition 

 of large ganoids, which have up to the present time afforded no other 

 portions of their bony structure. The others are plates which com- 

 posed parts of the armor of a new placoderm, allied to Coccosteus and 

 Pterichthys. Fuller descriptions with figures will eventually be given 

 to the public, but in the meantime the following notes upon them are 



