l6 NATURE STUDY. 



these septaria whicli had been split, apparently by the frost, Mr. 

 Hertzer discovered that they not unfrequently contained masses of 

 silicified wood {Dodoxylon newberryi Dawson) or fragments of 

 bones that had served as nuclei around which they had formed. 

 Of these bones several were taken by Mr. Hertzer to the meeting 

 of the American Association at Buffalo, in 1866. There they were 

 submitted to me, and I recognized them as the bones of huge Gan- 

 oid fishes, altogether new to science." 



The story of the scientific work accomplished b}^ this 

 persistent clergyman has been prettily retold by Katherine 

 D. Sharpe, in the Amerir.an Inventor iox May 15, 1903, 

 and will be of interest to young and old alike : 



"The pastor of the little German-Methodist church 

 went singing cheerily to himself along Winter street and 

 off into the country, one bright summer morning. He was 

 at peace with all the world, not even greatly regarding the 

 inquisitive glances and solemn head-shakings of certain 

 common-sense business men who stood at their doors as he 

 passed, and remarked one to another : 



'" Off to the hills again with his hammer ! Poor fellow ! 

 He'll find there's no money there.' 



" But the hills of Delaware County, Ohio, gave up their 

 treasure at last to the seeking of Rev. Henr}^ Hertzer ; and 

 to his patient labors and sagacity is due the discover}- of 

 one of the most remarkable of the great fossil fishes found 

 in Ohio. 



"In the study of animal development, through geology, 

 more than one " missing link " has, at various times, ex- 

 cited the interest and research of the student. The science 

 is still so immature, and discoveries are so constantly be- 

 ing made that the unbiased mind holds itself in readiness 

 for new revelations. 



" In the line of relationship between the batrachians and 

 fishes, the IvCpidosiren, or mud-fish, discovered in 1S37 by 

 Dr. Matterer, in the Amazon River, has held a controvert- 

 ed position ; some systematists ranking it as the highest of 



