Asisociation of American Geologists and Naturalists. 151 



of ancient relics. It is generally believed that tlie Indians are 

 ignorant of the purposes for which these mounds are built. They 

 always declare their ignorance when questioned in relation to them. 

 But it is well known to the citizens of the South- Western States, 

 that they visit them in the most mysterious manner to the present 

 day. They invariably follow the ancient paths when visiting them, 

 unless obstructed by works of improvement. They can trace the 

 paths with the greatest accuracy, even after the plough has passed 

 over the field. They usually leave the mounds about midnight, 

 making the most hideous liowls and groans. Ovens have been dis- 

 covered in the mounds of Arkansas, with the pottery in them all 

 ready for baking, A head was discovered with artificial teeth set. 



As we gave in our paper of yesterday so full a report of the 

 paper made by Mr Squier, we have not thought it necessary to do 

 more than mention a iew facts related by Dr Dickeson, more espe- 

 cially, as there is so strong a resemblance between the mounds of 

 the Ohio valley and the South-West, and in the articles recovered 

 from them. 



Mr Squier remarked, that there was an almost absolute identity 

 existing between them. 



Professor Hall made a communication, being the general results 

 of investigation in the palaeontology of the lower strata of New 

 York. 



Professor Agassiz remarked, that the types for this country should 

 not be taken from the European formations. The men of science in 

 this country have no cause to fear their European brethren ; they 

 have made more progress in the same departments than the scien- 

 tific men of Europe. It must be a source of congratulation with 

 them, that this country must furnibh the principal geological types. 



Professor H. D. Rogers remarked, that each country or district 

 must be a type for itself ; that one geological formation could not 

 be a type for another in a remote region of country, that is, it would 

 not do to extend the types. 



Professor H. D. Rogers offered some remarks on the reorganiza- 

 tion of the Association. 



Professor Agassiz gave a brief account of similar Associations in 

 J'^urope, and more especially of the Swiss Atsociation, the parent of 

 all the others. 



Brief remarks v/ere made by other members upon the reorganiza- 

 tion of the Association, It was then voted that the Association 

 should I)e designated as the " American Association for the Promo- 

 tion of Science." 



A paper was read by Professor C. B. Adams on the Taconic 

 system of rocks. 



The Secretary read a paper on the same subject by L. Vanuxen. 



Professor S. S, Ilaldcman made a I'cport on the character of 

 Triarthus Bekkii and Atops Trilineatus. 



