76 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [aPRIL 27, 



Mr. Perry inferred that this opposition in strike might have 

 been occasioned by the protrusion of a granite boss that projects 

 near by, but his studies have not developed this point to a cer- 

 tainty. It would seem that the graphitic coal bed is a north- 

 erly prolongation of the Rhode Island coal basin even more 

 highly metamorphosed than it, but that the other series — the 

 hydromica slate, or phyllite or ottrelite — is of the metamorphic 

 rocks as we know them in this vicinity and to the north. 



Prof. D. S. Martin mentioned the occurrence of similar 

 plants in the schists of the neighborhood of Providence, R. I. 



President Newberry called attention to the contorted char- 

 acter of the rocks and the consequent imperfect nature of the 

 fossils exhibited. Besides a Lepidodendron already noted there 

 are fi'agments of a Sigillaria and of fern stipes. The general 

 character of the deposit is similar to the Carboniferous area of 

 Newport and vicinity, but the material hitherto seen is insuffi- 

 cient for positive identilication. 



Mr. G. F. Kunz exhibited orthoclase crystals from veins, 

 with zeolites and pyrite, in the diabase of the West Shore 

 Railway tunnel at Weehawken. 



Mr. B. B. Chamberlin remarked on the occurrence of large 

 feldspar crystals elsewhere in the trap, and of albite in the dia- 

 base of Graniteville, Staten Island. 



The President exhibited copper instruments of hitherto un- 

 noticed forms, collected near Houghton, Michigan, by Mr. 

 Raymond. 



Mr. Chamberlin remarked on copper spear heads, ten inches 

 in length, now in the museum of the Historical Society of 

 Houghton. 



Mr. John C. Branner, of Scranton, Penn., then read the 

 announced paper of the evening on — 



COTTON in BRAZIL; ITS HISTORY, METHODS OF CULTIVATION AND THE 

 INSECTS AFFECTING IT. 



Mr. Chittenden stated that Columbus found the Indians of 

 Cumana using cotton in the fabrication of coarse cloth. 



