74 PROCKEUINGS OK THE ASSOCIATION OF 



fragments of the limestone and fossils, water-worn and blended 

 with coarse sand and gravel, have been accumulated to form the 

 lower beds of the Oriskany rock. The rapid fluctuation in thick- 

 ness of the upper limestones, as witnessed in Virginia, Pennsyl- 

 vania and western New York, (near Black Rock, for example,) 

 Prof. R. ascribed rather to the irregular force of the denudation, 

 than to irregularity of thickness in the original deposit. He dwelt 

 upon the epoch of the close of this limestone series, and the com- 

 mencement of the overlying sandstone, as one of great interest in 

 the history of our Appalachian rocks, marked as it is, throughout 

 a great part of the Appalachian belt, by evidences of a sudden 

 and gi'cat change in the physical conditions of the ancient sea, 

 and by the proofs of attendant drifting and denuding action of 

 extraordinary energy. 



He contended that the grooved and worn surfaces of the lime- 

 stone which mark the abrading action of a drift at this ancient 

 period, together with the same phenomena observed in the rocks 

 of other portions of the Appalachian series, as described by Prof. 

 H. D. Rogers and Mr. Hall, bear so sbiking a resemblance to 

 those more recent effects, which have given rise of late to such 

 deeply interesting speculations, that it would seem unphilosoph- 

 ical to refer the two to different mechanical causes. He there- 

 fore maintained, that as in the production of these ancient phe- 

 nomena of diluvium or drift, it can hardly be supposed that ice, 

 either floating or in the form of glaciers, could have performed 

 any part, since the existence of ice in the ocean at that period is 

 scarcely conceivable, we are under no necessity of resorting to 

 the glacial, or even the glacio-aqueous theory, in explanation of 

 the more modern phenomena of grooved and striated rocks. 



Resolved, That Mr. ,J. D. Whitxey, Jr. be appointed a com- 

 mittee to be charged with letters from the Secretary to the vari- 

 ous Foreign Societies, inviting their cooperation. 



The standing committee nominated the Hon. Nathan Apple- 

 ton, of Boston, and Prof. E. Emmet, of the University of Vir- 

 ginia, as members of the Association, and they were unanimously 

 elected. 



Resolved, That the thanks of this Association be presented to 

 the Secretary and Assistant Secretaries, for the performance of 

 the arduous duties assigned them during the present meeting of 

 the Association. 



Resolved, That the different State Geologists be requested to 

 apply to the legislature of the States with which they are con- 

 nected, for a number of copies of their Reports for the use of the 

 Association. 



