i 
five, on Gates Avenue, near Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, 
has its whole surface covered with fragments of a once most 
magnificent crinoid. 
Of fish remains there seem to be several species. In a 
slab now lyingin a yard in Brooklyn, are what I judge to be 
large dermal plates of an immense fish. 
A slab, at one time in front of the Astor House, bore the 
impression of a fish well preserved. The scales were disso- 
ciated, but the form and outline of a fish some sixteen inches 
long could be readily seen when the slab was clean anda 
little wet. 
Seales, bones, teeth, and rays are often well preserved in 
sulphuret of iron, and present quite an ornamental aspect 
when the stone is wet by showers. 
I haye frequently seen clusters of pebbles, resembling, and 
suggesting, the spawning-beds of fish. 
Casts and impressions of worm-burrows often cover the re- 
verse sides of slabs. The burrows are sometimes filled with 
fine sand, and then appear in alto relievo. They are of 
various sizes and shapes, and would indicate several species, 
if methods of progression are evidences of specific relations. 
Of course, under the circumstances, it is impossible to 
study these remains carefully; we cannot remove them to 
our cabinets and examine them at our leisure; we can only 
glance at them as we pass along after summer showers. 
Enough is seen, however, to reveal to us some of the stranded 
denizens of Devonian seas, and some fragmentary remains of 
ancient forests; enough to make us wish for time and oppor- 
tunity to study them fully at the Kingston quarries. 
Dr. AvoupH Ort read a paper upon Recent Improvements 
in the manufacture of Artificial Stone. He described in par- 
ticular, the Portland, the Ransome, and the Sorell processes, 
detailing the composition in each, and the respective advan- 
tages and disadvantages. 
Mr. CoLLinewoop referred to the remarkable account 
given by Gen. Theodore G. Ellis, in No. 54 of the papers 
published by the American Society of Civil Engineers, con- 
cerning the great durability of the floors used in some parts 
of Mexico, composed of two parts of sand and one of lime, 
and repeatedly beaten and worked over. 
